tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21508582472899544002024-03-05T08:06:19.171-06:00Tracy's TreasuryTracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.comBlogger206125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-73153285716759880302018-04-03T08:00:00.000-05:002018-04-03T08:00:20.370-05:00Homeschool vs. School at Home<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsTq4_h2ZPasRzOqZ5k0QUrtv95R-Hsr4DMkyVzSoZmJewOZbvnQIe85eJUjNwnu3AaVnq4ZEpp9-XdNQosrHKtFhKjUZMnV1Snz-fE2qrsNduS0pPMexB09yO_WWSOfEjIELC8WX84Ov/s1600/schooldesk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsTq4_h2ZPasRzOqZ5k0QUrtv95R-Hsr4DMkyVzSoZmJewOZbvnQIe85eJUjNwnu3AaVnq4ZEpp9-XdNQosrHKtFhKjUZMnV1Snz-fE2qrsNduS0pPMexB09yO_WWSOfEjIELC8WX84Ov/s1600/schooldesk.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">If there's one bit of advice I've heard more than any other from homeschoolers, it's the</span></span><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;"> fact that home school is NOT school at home! <i>Your own reasoning prompted you to keep your children out of public schools, so why would you want to bring that very school system into your home? </i>Such is done in the method of <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/03/virtual-schooling.html">virtual schooling</a>, to the detriment of students, parents, and the home schooling community. </span><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">But my focus here is with homeschooling families who begin bringing the classroom methodology, scheduling and general mentality into their home schooling approach. This may be a natural first tendency, especially if you were public/private schooled, or you've been a school teacher. It is what you know... what you're familiar with. But... it is not the ideal for helping your children reach their learning potential, nor for inspiring a life-long love of learning. </span><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><br /></span><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;"></span></span>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;"><b>Read Real Books... Not School Books!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;"><b><br /></b></span>
</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: normal;">One of the advantages of homeschooling is that we can choose quality literature, rather than schoolbooks. Instead of dry, uninteresting text written by a curriculum committee, we can learn from real books written by an author who loves their subject, stimulates the mind and ignites the imagination! The difference is night and day! </span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgez-mKZZBqXeHvyKdGUV39KzTuBloTUwYUT4Eeu8NmDGyUBx7Nnp7EvVAgO0D9n3dt85_-P0bBQX3nOiJpGtL9Bxvi3hIdD5PIn0si61D8sIXv0KDv5OgMzafF49VyeAstkx96yOUfi4eD/s1600/classic-literature.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgez-mKZZBqXeHvyKdGUV39KzTuBloTUwYUT4Eeu8NmDGyUBx7Nnp7EvVAgO0D9n3dt85_-P0bBQX3nOiJpGtL9Bxvi3hIdD5PIn0si61D8sIXv0KDv5OgMzafF49VyeAstkx96yOUfi4eD/s1600/classic-literature.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Even our recreational books are higher quality than those lining the shelves of a school library. Instead of choosing books based on their point value to pass a test and win a prize, <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2016/08/heres-help-finding-some-good-books.html">we choose them based on their literary value</a>, and we enjoy them. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">The market today is filled with diluted children's material. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px;">Over the years, quality literature has been extracted from school classrooms and replaced with what I call junk books. If you compare the two side, by side the difference is astounding. </span><a href="http://thefederalistpapers.org/us/middle-school-reading-lists-100-years-ago-vs-today-show-how-far-american-educational-standards-have-declined" style="font-size: 15px;" target="_blank">Middle School Reading Lists 100 Years Ago Vs. Today Show How Far Standards Have Declined</a><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px;">. Our plummeting school standards are undeniable. We don't need to follow suit in our home... we can do better! </span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">Reading great literature stimulates the mind. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">It enhances the vocabulary, writing & composition skills, reading speed & comprehension, and the ability to dissect plots, story-lines & characters.</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #340035; font: 9px;"><i>(1:12)</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;">Perhaps its removal is why "we've gone from teaching Greek and Latin in high school to teaching remedial English in college." </span><i style="color: #340035;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Joseph Sobran)</span></span></i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b>The Home Learning Environment</b></span></div>
<div class="image-right" style="font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Proponents of the Monetssori Method insist on maintaining an ideal learning environment. I find it interesting to note that they strive to mimic the "home" environment as much as possible, believing it to be ideal. Charlotte Mason also wanted children to "absorb" the home environment as well. How lucky for us! This is where we teach from anyway. To attempt to re-create the institutional setting is artificial and unnatural. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard;"><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard;"><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;">I love <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2014/10/a-peek-into-our-home-school-room.html">our school room</a>, but we aren't glued to it. You'll often find my boys reading in a tree or inside a fort. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard;"><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;">I don't plaster the walls with educational posters either. In fact, the very few I find useful I hide inside the closet door! </span></span><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;">It's first and foremost our home. </span><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;">My goal was to make our school room a happy space to keep all our supplies organized and accessible. </span><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;">Every family should do what works for them, but </span><a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/08/schoolish-room.html" style="font-family: verdana, serif;">read this post before making your school room too schoolish</a><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;">. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>School Scheduling</b></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><b><br /></b></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Your school day will be shorter than the typical public school day simply because it's so much more efficient. You have a small student-teacher ratio, which makes your study time more effective and meaningful. You cover what your children need, not a broad program for an entire classroom. If you hit it hard from 8:00 till 3:00 your children will get burned out, and so will you. It's overkill. Much time is wasted in public school with busy work, administrative paperwork, attendance taking, transition between subjects, time fillers here and there, herding the kids from one place to another, settling down, and group discipline. If you google school time-fillers or busy work, you'll find all sorts of ideas for teachers to use to keep kids "busy." It's been estimated that school children only spend 20% of their time at school "on task." Do you realize that equates to an hour and fourteen minutes? Let that sink in. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In addition to having shorter, more efficient days, homeschoolers are also free to structure their day however works best for them. The school system schedules its teaching in compartmentalized, timed segments for each separate subject. We can go with the flow! I am a planner and scheduler at heart, but I've learned that we function best without a set time per subject, and I'm not afraid to go down rabbit trails and see where we end up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We are known to drop everything and chase butterflies. And those days are some of our very best. My boys have learned to classify and identify animals, sketch them, and journal about them with impromptu nature studies like this. And guess what? That was science, writing, and art for the day. It's a lovely thing when we can learn to relax enough to embrace the surprise learning opportunities that come our way, instead of feeling behind afterwards. Schedules are good, but be flexible with them.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;"><b>Remember that you're not a school... you're a family!</b></span></div>
<div class="image-right">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">"Many of the tools for school (worksheets, multiple choice tests, true/false tests) are effective ways of working with a large group of unrelated people within a constrained amount of time to get them through the same amount of material in nine months or less. Using their tools to home school is like using a chainsaw to butter your bread. They are dealing with kids whose parents didn't come home last night, kids who got off to school with a smack and a curse, kids who have been brought up in an environment as stimulating as a piece of white bread. They are dealing with 20-30 kids with varying interests, abilities, and backgrounds. They are dealing with a climate of suspicion making it impossible for them to kiss a child, give out a tylenol, or defuse a tense moment with a group prayer. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">You don't have most of these issues to deal with. Even those of us with adopted children from difficult backgrounds have fewer than 20 of them, and we have them 24 and 7. You can curl up on the couch with a good history book and your sweet children and read together and talk about it and you will have covered as much ground in literature, critical thinking, vocabulary, and history in half an hour as a public schooled child does in a week. You may not have pen and paper work to show for it, but the work of the mind happens in the mind, and it is what happens in the mind and heart that constitutes education."</span> <span style="color: #340035; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">(quoted from "</span><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://heartkeepercommonroom.blogspot.com/2009/11/educated-mind.html" rel="external" target="_blank" title="An Educated Mind">An Educated Mind</a></span><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">")</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #340035; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><b>Going Off Book</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;"></span></span><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflfFNhjGdVFqoi-pU5WtO2TTe1dCpUaU2QaAWnQWFMuPXRvQWW0k1mOZbw1UExpKgB87r65gqvBC5geGN0n_QRUdhmNyrd5s7o-_wYfL1vsd5QzXLrMpnbM0lNSlXoymxLnPuSDoKXoHC/s1600/Mom-reads-to-daughter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflfFNhjGdVFqoi-pU5WtO2TTe1dCpUaU2QaAWnQWFMuPXRvQWW0k1mOZbw1UExpKgB87r65gqvBC5geGN0n_QRUdhmNyrd5s7o-_wYfL1vsd5QzXLrMpnbM0lNSlXoymxLnPuSDoKXoHC/s1600/Mom-reads-to-daughter.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">You're not stuck with just textbooks and workbooks! They're</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;"> not the only way to teach a child, nor are they generally the most effective. They were developed for a classroom setting, and largely only cater to </span><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;"><u><a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/02/perceptual-modalities.html" rel="self" title="Learning Modalities">visual learners</a></u></span><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;">. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard;"><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;">When textbooks and workbooks are the main teaching source, children fall into the "read, review, regurgitate" mentality and are less likely to be inspired to a deeper curiosity or love of the subject. Creativity</span></span><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;"> is also minimized, causing such a disservice to children as it is their pathway into the highest </span><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;"><u><a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/05/Assessing-Learning.html" rel="self" title="Assessing Learning">level of learning</a></u></span><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;">. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;"></span></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">Hands-on experience and real life learning surpass textbooks any day of the week! Just because it doesn't happen on paper doesn't mean it doesn't count! </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Learning experiences, field trips, etc. count as school days too! </span></span><a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/03/curriculum-cage.html" style="font-size: 15px;">Don't let your curriculum be your master</a><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px;">... it's just a tool in your belt. We get to <a href="https://simplycharlottemason.com/blog/teach-the-child/" target="_blank">teach our child, not just a curriculum</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><b>Testing</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">Test-taking is a skill that our kids need to have... eventually. They certainly don't need testing or grades in grade school, when a simple discussion is all that's needed to </span> <span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">gauge their learning</span><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">. </span><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">You can find out how deeply they're connecting with the subject through conversation, particularly i</span><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">f you know the</span> <span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;"><u><a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/05/Assessing-Learning.html" rel="self" title="Assessing Learning">right questions</a></u></span> <span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">to ask. <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/08/better-than-worksheets-quizzes-tests.html">Narration</a> is a great tool to have in your belt, and far more valuable than multiple choice and fill in the blank tests, which only require them to think at the lowest levels. It can be done in a </span><a href="https://simplycharlottemason.com/timesavers/narration/" style="font-size: 15px;" target="_blank">a variety of ways</a><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px;">, all of which you'll notice require a </span><a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/05/Assessing-Learning.html" style="font-size: 15px;">higher level of thinking</a><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px;"> than a worksheet or test. </span><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px;">Another option is utilizing</span><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;"> a focused channel for their creativity, such as</span> <span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;"><u><a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-is-notebooking.html" rel="self" title="Notebooking">notebooking</a></u></span> <span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">or</span> <span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;"><u><a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-is-lapbooking.html" rel="self" title="Lapbooking">lapbooking</a></u></span><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">, and your child will not only show you how much they've learned but they will retain it better too, and even enjoy the process.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b></b><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Learning Lifestyle</span></b></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNKzyUuW2b_MqRNBDnLrwl2xkCvz3dtWrAk8rDDl5GzyII6Ju9nLdc7qX_BbUwM5lBwvLI1U3TUGflNR5Jt7miMU-nM85hqrKAPRzaj4s-s0Buy6FFBvvBnMQi0fCuZ6gEGmnMoVkFxtj/s1600/BirdWatching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNKzyUuW2b_MqRNBDnLrwl2xkCvz3dtWrAk8rDDl5GzyII6Ju9nLdc7qX_BbUwM5lBwvLI1U3TUGflNR5Jt7miMU-nM85hqrKAPRzaj4s-s0Buy6FFBvvBnMQi0fCuZ6gEGmnMoVkFxtj/s1600/BirdWatching.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">I think one of the biggest factors in achieving homeschool success is approaching learning as a lifestyle. When this is the case, you naturally appreciate learning opporunitities that come along, whatever form they may take. Any person is a teacher and any road is an opportunity to learn. We are here to guide our children to the best ones. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">As parents pursue their interests, and include children in various projects, the children begin to see their parents as learners too... not just educators. "More than half of the educational battle is won when your child discovers his own desire for learning."</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> <span style="color: #340035; font: 9px;"><i>(1:46)</i></span></span><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px;"> It's my belief that a desire to learn and <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/04/read-aloud.html">a love of reading</a> are the two underlying components of an educated person. Neither one can be forced, they must be inspired. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Parents Know Best</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">Often, parents feel the need to do things in their child's education that just aren't necessary. This may stem from the perceived family, friend, or public expectations, or what the "experts" say. </span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">What is an expert? The dictionary definition reads: "a person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field." So, in the</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>particular field</i></span></span> <span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">of your children, the</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>expert</i></span></span> <span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">is you! ... Do the authors of Good Books really know more about your children then you do? Does Scripture exhort authors of Good Books concerning how to raise children, or does it exhort parents? God has given the job of</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>resident expert</i></span></span> <span style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">to you, and not to a stack of Good Books."</span> <span style="color: #340035; font: 9px;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(1:16)</span> </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"> So trust your gut, go with the flow, and make your way down the road less travelled. </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;"><b>-----------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 24px;">Works Cited:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 24px;"><span style="border-width: 0px; color: #340035; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Bill & Diana Waring,</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 24px;"><span style="border-width: 0px; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1883002427/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1883002427&linkCode=as2&tag=tracstrea-20">Things We Wish We'd Known: A Guide to Abundant-Life Homeschooling</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=tracstrea-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1883002427" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 24px;"><span style="border-width: 0px; color: #340035; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 24px;"><span style="border-width: 0px; color: #340035; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(You'll notice that I cite many references to this book. It is a compilation of veteran home schoolers' advice and comes highly recommended.)</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033; line-height: 24px;"><span style="border-width: 0px; color: #340035; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Cheri Fuller,</span> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008SMO39Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008SMO39Q&linkCode=as2&tag=tracstrea-20">School Starts at Home: Simple Ways to Make Learning Fun</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=tracstrea-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B008SMO39Q" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 359px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 1491px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 359px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 1491px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-21522108108160792022018-03-29T08:00:00.000-05:002018-03-29T08:00:42.173-05:00Well Hello There Stranger!My dear readers, if you are still there, you might have noticed that I've been MIA for a while. I've been too busy living life to write about it, and while that's not likely to dramatically change soon, I thought I'd better check in!<br />
<br />
I've continued using my blog as a handy reference when I'm trying to help out other homeschool moms, since I've saved most of my favorite resources here. Of course, some things have changed since I wrote them so I'm in the process of updating those. A few will be published in the coming weeks. Probably. 😉<br />
<br />
A couple recently updated posts include:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/02/learning-styles-teaching-styles.html">Learning Styles and Teaching Styles</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/03/virtual-schooling.html">Virtual Schooling </a><br />
<br />
I also moved my essential oils recipes to the <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/p/dr-mom.html">Dr. Mom</a> page.<br />
<br />
I know this was short and sweet, but I thought I should pop in to say hi before randomly posting something for the first time in a year and a half. 🤷🏻♀️<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-6424498961701795382016-11-07T07:00:00.000-06:002016-11-07T07:00:07.918-06:00An Easy DIY Winter Wreath<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Want to make a fun winter wreath to adorn your door? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjXybPLsKYhH1U5fRvp75MewVT_zeCpaKIYSutMUfxAAhPJZInUO8PGsLlNox_jYzxYG2arseBcqnzHDDqbbyIwnCd1KbsGwuQfiaC1FBA9iAfAUTAF_ghEk7RR9Z32CJf5rCeN66QSNG/s1600/Letter+Wreath+Winter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjXybPLsKYhH1U5fRvp75MewVT_zeCpaKIYSutMUfxAAhPJZInUO8PGsLlNox_jYzxYG2arseBcqnzHDDqbbyIwnCd1KbsGwuQfiaC1FBA9iAfAUTAF_ghEk7RR9Z32CJf5rCeN66QSNG/s400/Letter+Wreath+Winter.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This one was made the exact same way as <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/04/you-can-make-burlap-wreath.html" target="_blank">My Easy Burlap Wreath Tutorial</a>, but using a couple fancy ribbons instead of burlap. My mom and I stocked up on silver sparkly ribbons after Christmas at Hobby Lobby last year, and found the fancy blue flowers then too. Afterwards I added the sparkly R. </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To make the letter, I bought a plain letter from Hobby Lobby, painted it, then mod podged on a bunch of super fine blue glitter, which I got from Michaels. (the super fine part is important!)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryXZBorNFxmepWFOnRZsheeXo5uPhkAwHN1BPZUACD25DJHNrsKicpBELyAEBd20358rxdwVgxasG46iaNzGecSD7Nq2w3egc9Fhdchw6TTIQwB6hye88j8gzbUyIdJqLiFreT5ZqTD8f/s1600/R+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryXZBorNFxmepWFOnRZsheeXo5uPhkAwHN1BPZUACD25DJHNrsKicpBELyAEBd20358rxdwVgxasG46iaNzGecSD7Nq2w3egc9Fhdchw6TTIQwB6hye88j8gzbUyIdJqLiFreT5ZqTD8f/s320/R+1.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKtIi19lWfCNgDIYGQv5zCPoffMyPF_IMUkYgOrJmYAr0nhGWdLg4JWTv_bU_DjYSeHXwCMIMJG6hQLWY3PP4mUG1WCDjQ-rtPXVxoHxfeQmpyQKEqD-5uAYdUSvsjnF5mHIKgDjZD00p/s1600/R+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKtIi19lWfCNgDIYGQv5zCPoffMyPF_IMUkYgOrJmYAr0nhGWdLg4JWTv_bU_DjYSeHXwCMIMJG6hQLWY3PP4mUG1WCDjQ-rtPXVxoHxfeQmpyQKEqD-5uAYdUSvsjnF5mHIKgDjZD00p/s400/R+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have the letter hanging from fishing line which I tied to the wreath frame and then to an upside down command hook on the back of the R. That's it! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Happy Wreathing! :D (If you want to make your own, see my <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/04/you-can-make-burlap-wreath.html" target="_blank">wreath tutorial</a> here!)</span></div>
<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-81251134847540985322016-09-05T22:24:00.000-05:002016-09-05T22:24:01.461-05:00New DIY Bible Covers! Check out these super cute bible covers, made my my readers!<br />
<br />
Here's one from Linda who made a bible cover for her daughter...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0U1f1pTop69vPHUkMYN_TNX8HNYNMGXpYcdbpyRwp0AzOp4BdQ19Yoj7GIHI4XKjUYKtpAXct016SzxVWsqvgj0nvNPZ1FiVcs_kw819bbXgtJmHITs2IWiZHmq5bPhygqH4w8BRArGF/s1600/lindas+bible+cover+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0U1f1pTop69vPHUkMYN_TNX8HNYNMGXpYcdbpyRwp0AzOp4BdQ19Yoj7GIHI4XKjUYKtpAXct016SzxVWsqvgj0nvNPZ1FiVcs_kw819bbXgtJmHITs2IWiZHmq5bPhygqH4w8BRArGF/s320/lindas+bible+cover+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6HIbp1itcFx5bU9_6W_UkngJBosD8npCAF45eU7k3R6AxZm_mYnKeena2rFRB4sqBGkuEXsAxIyERZYlUE2Rhkqn7JPvugMSHmxxPs5DyakiUUseayQx0V0WDSsE-Ku3_BduWPyWz8nF/s1600/lindas+bible+cover+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6HIbp1itcFx5bU9_6W_UkngJBosD8npCAF45eU7k3R6AxZm_mYnKeena2rFRB4sqBGkuEXsAxIyERZYlUE2Rhkqn7JPvugMSHmxxPs5DyakiUUseayQx0V0WDSsE-Ku3_BduWPyWz8nF/s320/lindas+bible+cover+2.jpg" width="303" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's one from Amy H. in Texas who made a bible cover for her four-year-old son... </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLp02rQc4SzJs3jJcxoHrqUdbNHBNa_OrbmeEETe1SS0oPgriBCsnu7DcU8ks0wAVD7TBata-Z3BBBobIZoBQdWyAA15fD3khM-33i3jHjkVwPyPYnqBSIFu81LauYBG0oIdCK8rkaYF0l/s1600/amys+bible+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLp02rQc4SzJs3jJcxoHrqUdbNHBNa_OrbmeEETe1SS0oPgriBCsnu7DcU8ks0wAVD7TBata-Z3BBBobIZoBQdWyAA15fD3khM-33i3jHjkVwPyPYnqBSIFu81LauYBG0oIdCK8rkaYF0l/s320/amys+bible+cover.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
<br />
And here's one from Mary who made a bible cover for her niece...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChru9dHDORdGcrhHnkupXm9gOi6-qlDBTNfkaMR0c3dv90PFnDmg7Ee7zFbs4ihIx9kicoQcvmB3x4E_lZqIXlF9lThBfpYIv_IwLpCewdsHRuoYwoB-PIm6R_XDu6iBv4UvOxVOrvfFK/s1600/marys+bible+cover+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChru9dHDORdGcrhHnkupXm9gOi6-qlDBTNfkaMR0c3dv90PFnDmg7Ee7zFbs4ihIx9kicoQcvmB3x4E_lZqIXlF9lThBfpYIv_IwLpCewdsHRuoYwoB-PIm6R_XDu6iBv4UvOxVOrvfFK/s320/marys+bible+cover+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Thanks for sharing ladies! They all three used my <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2010/10/make-your-own-bible-cover-sewing.html" target="_blank">Make Your Own Bible Cover Sewing Tutorial</a>, and you can too! Be sure to send me pictures when you're done!<br />
<br />
<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-582030013489995042016-09-05T07:00:00.000-05:002016-09-05T07:00:02.180-05:00Paint Bucket Storage Idea<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We've painted almost every wall and ceiling throughout our house, which means we have a LOT of paint cans. They're best stored at room temperature, but I don't like looking at them, so this is what I came up with...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14IHSj92DBzHY6FT5Ex08S7WrLm4IEO-Jq7RrueAut1908OHrWcR1kffoKzheK5Jua2JhG4_J7Glp2nHi6kdWbwP5cFg_zevmrV1NHomYB1nD7XZpjAVE2kwGZ8a-Qf3TqZu7taeXI2H_/s1600/paint+bucket+storage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14IHSj92DBzHY6FT5Ex08S7WrLm4IEO-Jq7RrueAut1908OHrWcR1kffoKzheK5Jua2JhG4_J7Glp2nHi6kdWbwP5cFg_zevmrV1NHomYB1nD7XZpjAVE2kwGZ8a-Qf3TqZu7taeXI2H_/s320/paint+bucket+storage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I store them on top of a high cabinet in the laundry room. At first they were kind of obvious up there so to make them less noticeable (ugly), I pulled the paint can labels off. Now they're just a bunch of matching black cans. When I stand on the washer/dryer to get them, then I can see the labels...</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2ypL2ZQ9nb0NgbJq3kM0BbVX9_HZ12844B7lpPHkix85Ck0AN5J6r7ZHU3Rapoq-FuQ4yjHYawnOj-dfhcNmmVvyMETA3MqHJ5C7SxJ2YqT8NwA-UL0WPy-ZcuS3UTwp-l2ZuxkCFtGN/s1600/labeled+paint+buckets+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2ypL2ZQ9nb0NgbJq3kM0BbVX9_HZ12844B7lpPHkix85Ck0AN5J6r7ZHU3Rapoq-FuQ4yjHYawnOj-dfhcNmmVvyMETA3MqHJ5C7SxJ2YqT8NwA-UL0WPy-ZcuS3UTwp-l2ZuxkCFtGN/s320/labeled+paint+buckets+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: start;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: start;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: start;">I made the labels by cutting out the paint color on the swatch card, labeling what room it goes to, then taping it on the paint can.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbNqr2Xi3fzNIX2VbRrnVCwK5nNQxZ3KxzAvzu75fDHi4kc_sx2S4Ss_KBCpvYMqYUNItR7XVXctoyJFWasgmlM_7rKCep4o-eizEk0go34ybZwJH5bQsLt66Mryip4bGuukzuMKSzBWz/s1600/labeled+paint+buckets+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbNqr2Xi3fzNIX2VbRrnVCwK5nNQxZ3KxzAvzu75fDHi4kc_sx2S4Ss_KBCpvYMqYUNItR7XVXctoyJFWasgmlM_7rKCep4o-eizEk0go34ybZwJH5bQsLt66Mryip4bGuukzuMKSzBWz/s320/labeled+paint+buckets+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: '"verdana"', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">So if you're in need of a way to hide your paint buckets in plain sight, give it a try! :) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-84793015084491801412016-08-22T07:00:00.000-05:002016-08-22T07:00:03.811-05:00Mommy Memory Book<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I found a way to organize my sweet notes, drawings and cards from the kids. I <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2014/08/bind-it-up-baby.html" target="_blank">bound</a> them into a Mommy Memory Book....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7r-m6N_lERgGLHDZ5OmVvqVhU9sp8EZQUAYBA3KHUUyfqxOz_gGVQQE5sLu5rgW6JcS18DETG24FbqxVNzwJzxrThZ92BW5TjEVl-CrFV60FZfpVnUyChhaRl4pd2IfxEfwcV6KqrKwAc/s1600/Mommy+Memory+Book+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7r-m6N_lERgGLHDZ5OmVvqVhU9sp8EZQUAYBA3KHUUyfqxOz_gGVQQE5sLu5rgW6JcS18DETG24FbqxVNzwJzxrThZ92BW5TjEVl-CrFV60FZfpVnUyChhaRl4pd2IfxEfwcV6KqrKwAc/s400/Mommy+Memory+Book+Cover.jpg" width="333" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you're wondering where I got that fabulous cover art, a friend of mine drew it for me!! :D</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Inside the book I made card stock dividers for each year and taped on a pocket to each one to hold loose little notes and cards... </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94qjcAZj-xODTZl6E8xbloRlyOrh7mYg2BHyG3YXr6oN7brrc5yYyrKh6dnJKXozAYfCXKLI8beAVeldYshk9zhgV9BmE2KKji0hfZAvvGIeyWt9slXIP26SIV3gSfWzsXgHNTU-ixG7x/s1600/pockets+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94qjcAZj-xODTZl6E8xbloRlyOrh7mYg2BHyG3YXr6oN7brrc5yYyrKh6dnJKXozAYfCXKLI8beAVeldYshk9zhgV9BmE2KKji0hfZAvvGIeyWt9slXIP26SIV3gSfWzsXgHNTU-ixG7x/s320/pockets+2.jpg" width="266" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Behind the year dividers I have the drawings or notes that were more bindable (most of which I <a href="http://www.tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2014/03/i-heart-my-laminator.html" target="_blank">laminated</a>)...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62_AqNe-tjIdMWUHW7tIH0OloVkTYVFAVYSZVxtvD8LQT_pCqROW0Pe2Uuwr5ptkS26k-D-YKsep8Y_5rz5Iu5P7-u5spHm4NcaB-BMm4BWSdeGKIRq_CHXaTLd32P8w_ULEMmMEgwDOe/s1600/inside+mommy+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62_AqNe-tjIdMWUHW7tIH0OloVkTYVFAVYSZVxtvD8LQT_pCqROW0Pe2Uuwr5ptkS26k-D-YKsep8Y_5rz5Iu5P7-u5spHm4NcaB-BMm4BWSdeGKIRq_CHXaTLd32P8w_ULEMmMEgwDOe/s320/inside+mommy+book.jpg" width="276" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also have some yearly kid surveys and all the funny "kids quotes" I wrote down. Since the <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2014/08/bind-it-up-baby.html" target="_blank">pro-click binder spines zip and unzip</a>, it's no big deal to add to the book each year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I love it! What do you do with your keepsake notes and pictures? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-23881168710835676852016-08-08T07:00:00.000-05:002018-03-22T17:01:16.258-05:00Here's Help Finding Some Good Books!!<div>
<div style="border-width: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="font-style: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #330033; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://simplycharlottemason.com/faq/livingbook/" target="_blank">Living books</a> are the way to go, whether you're <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/04/ssr.html" target="_blank">reading for pleasure</a>, for school, or both. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: inherit; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHBIlvZVVEAjigrj0oRNBGoJILDpFfIceknjjlYMwDuLkExyW__UATbyhtl6WKWngZL20jrU9EeygGPLEQpuGZIm_UP3sFECoCL0A4oYzD7XDOr0agOflF0ivXPzV9ubHu0vfrsSQScNs/s1600/readingmaterial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHBIlvZVVEAjigrj0oRNBGoJILDpFfIceknjjlYMwDuLkExyW__UATbyhtl6WKWngZL20jrU9EeygGPLEQpuGZIm_UP3sFECoCL0A4oYzD7XDOr0agOflF0ivXPzV9ubHu0vfrsSQScNs/s1600/readingmaterial.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: inherit; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's my list of favorite book lists... :)</span></div>
<div style="border-width: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<ul><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
<li><a href="http://apps.simplycharlottemason.com/">CM Book finder</a>- I love this one! It's an easy way to search for living books on a certain topic within a defined age/grade level. Or, I search by book title to see if a book I found elsewhere happens to be recommended. If it is, I know it's considered a living book, and not inappropriate, which saves me the time of proofing it. </li>
<li><a href="http://bfbooks.com/Books/Books-by-Reading-Level">Beautiful Feet Books</a> History Through Literature, books by reading level </li>
<li><a href="http://www.sonlight.com/read-alouds.html">Sonlight Readaloud booklist</a>- This is one of quite a few book lists on this site. Realize that it's a curriculum company, so they'd like to sell you an entire year's curriculum at once. But many people simply use them for their book lists, checking the books out from the library. To do this... </li>
<ul>
<li>Find books by grade level - search by grade, click complete package, then click learn more, and you'll see them all listed. </li>
<li>Find books by subject - go to one of the various book packages they offer and click to see what's included, and it lists all the books. We check these out from the library. </li>
<li>They also have summer reading lists for boys and girls each year too!</li>
</ul>
<li><a href="http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/brochures.html">Jim Trelease's Brochure Booklists</a>- Download the brochure for each age to see his top picks. These are also found in his book, <a href="http://amzn.to/2HTO8dq" target="_blank">The Read Aloud Handbook</a>, which I highly recommend owning! </li>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
<li>See my family's <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/p/reading-resources.html">personal favorite</a> books by age (at the bottom of the page)</li>
<li><a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/06/supplementing-mystery-of-history-with.html">The Ultimate Booklist</a>- This is a list of living historical books arranged chronologically, by grade. </li>
</span>
</span></ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
<a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/p/reading-resources.html" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">For more great reading resources, check out this page!</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> You'll find resources for raising your children to be great readers, teaching your children how to read, and assessing their reading comprehension and level.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="border-width: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-width: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Happy Reading! :) </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="border-width: 0px; color: #340035; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-style: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span style="border-width: 0px; color: #340035; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-14651035085254317922016-07-25T07:00:00.001-05:002016-07-25T07:00:14.465-05:00New Project Pictures from Featured Readers<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I love getting pictures back from my readers showing me the projects they've created using my tutorials. Here are a couple I'd like to share...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kristen from Illinois made a fitted sheet for her toddler bed using <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2010/11/fitted-crib-sheets-for-baby-toddler.html" target="_blank">this tutorial</a>...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZqhuZsnfX7HwKc0IoUO750AKl4c-hy8PL3ju-yKd-1e0OHJGlXnorFIQ0Fod7MWxtxpVT0JvUErqOOzhPEUkJYiGrlZj9Rhr-62AdTGnM5RBGe2x4WHLzCM4ueon7OE5PikfUsz5HvNf/s1600/cute+crib+sheets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZqhuZsnfX7HwKc0IoUO750AKl4c-hy8PL3ju-yKd-1e0OHJGlXnorFIQ0Fod7MWxtxpVT0JvUErqOOzhPEUkJYiGrlZj9Rhr-62AdTGnM5RBGe2x4WHLzCM4ueon7OE5PikfUsz5HvNf/s320/cute+crib+sheets.jpg" width="239" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And Krysten from New York made this cute Yoda Ear Flap Hat using <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2011/09/fleece-ear-flap-hats-tutorial.html" target="_blank">this tutoria</a>l...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECFCdEsbRh1yUteDR4Mbvh49nXEphH9j8BdoWD40x0s7ElQJkaEFi8DgfD9LBbxzuYis_le8ncGRAKf7-kzYlZ9UGH81cWi0GHYTpAaW9N8c1h6x7l6q-uSbh-jc2M-KBxZviJFVgGa4y/s1600/diy+yoda+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECFCdEsbRh1yUteDR4Mbvh49nXEphH9j8BdoWD40x0s7ElQJkaEFi8DgfD9LBbxzuYis_le8ncGRAKf7-kzYlZ9UGH81cWi0GHYTpAaW9N8c1h6x7l6q-uSbh-jc2M-KBxZviJFVgGa4y/s320/diy+yoda+hat.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks for sharing gals! :D</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-6614215189381106152016-07-18T07:00:00.000-05:002017-06-15T15:25:00.627-05:00Is Your Child Ready to Learn How to Read?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPfHEnrl1E-8LOFWAQKpvKn-LzlIb6_IgteQO4o3uioE2wWT7qaFxfeMZPJicyHBbS9eZRY-5l5NOn4UuUXzOS9HMF77Hs4kbQ9aELSw5GU5pdLjZnCH4P6BJQFew6eqk3MNctorXP988/s1600/babyreading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPfHEnrl1E-8LOFWAQKpvKn-LzlIb6_IgteQO4o3uioE2wWT7qaFxfeMZPJicyHBbS9eZRY-5l5NOn4UuUXzOS9HMF77Hs4kbQ9aELSw5GU5pdLjZnCH4P6BJQFew6eqk3MNctorXP988/s1600/babyreading.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">It's never too soon to start reading to your children. It might, however, be too soon to teach your children HOW to read. There are several reading-readiness signs to watch for, and I'll share them below. But first I'd like to share the thought that learning to read <i>sooner</i> is not always <i>better</i>. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Finland's children begin formal reading instruction at age seven, and even then are only in school for half days. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(2:6)</span> Although they have this "late" start, a whopping two years behind American children, they have the highest reading scores in the world! <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(2:170)</span> As American schools cut out recess & play times to allow for more test prep (even in Kindergarten!), Finland children are given 15 minutes of recess for every 45 minutes of class. They have no national curriculum, but instead choose to heavily emphasize reading to children.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Here's a quote from 30 year school teacher John Taylor Gatto on the the importance (or lack thereof) of what age your child learns to read: "David learns to read at age four; Rachel at age nine: In normal development, when both are thirteen, you can't tell which one learned first -- the five-year spread means nothing at all. But in school, I label Rachel "learning disabled" and slow David down a bit, too. For a paycheck, I teach David to depend on me to tell him when to go and stop. He won't outgrow that dependency. I identify Rachel as discounted merchandise, "special education" fodder. She'll be locked in her place forever. In thirty years of teaching kids, rich and poor, I almost never met a "learning disabled child; hardly ever met a "gifted and talented" one either. Like all school categories, these are sacred myths created by human imagination."<span style="font-size: xx-small;">1:84</span> Oh and in case you're wondering, Finland doesn't bother with gifted programs.</div>
<div style="color: #111111;">
<div style="color: #111111; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, let your kids be kids! Encourage them to explore, dig in the dirt, observe nature, and play! And always set plenty of time each day to read aloud to them. They'll associate reading with pleasure, and the time will come when they pick up an interest of wanting to read for themselves. When this happens, seize your opportunity and strike while the fire is hot!</span></div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPfHEnrl1E-8LOFWAQKpvKn-LzlIb6_IgteQO4o3uioE2wWT7qaFxfeMZPJicyHBbS9eZRY-5l5NOn4UuUXzOS9HMF77Hs4kbQ9aELSw5GU5pdLjZnCH4P6BJQFew6eqk3MNctorXP988/s1600/babyreading.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hopefully you're <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/04/read-aloud.html" target="_blank">reading aloud to your child</a> every day, just for the fun of it. If your child picks up reading naturally, that's great! If not, don't worry about rushing it. Children who are formerly taught to read by their parents from a very young age can tend to struggle later on, often times not until second grade or later. Researchers aren't saying that reading early is bad! They just recommend to let the early reader to "arrive at the skill naturally, on his own, without a structured time each day when the mother or father sits down with him and teaches him letters, sounds, and syllables."<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(2:30) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So when IS the right time to start formal reading lessons? The simple answer is when your child shows an interest. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Naturally, o</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #111111; text-align: justify;">lder children may take their time while younger siblings may be anxious to learn because their big brothers and sisters are doing it.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> As long as they've learned to equate reading with pleasure, you won't have to coax them to get to this point. Here are a few other readiness signs you can look for... </span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #111111; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Is Your Child Ready For Reading Lessons? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Does she love it when you read books to her? If not, read <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/04/read-aloud.html" target="_blank">this post</a>. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Is he motivated? Does he want to learn to read? If not, <a href="http://amzn.to/29MxLS7" target="_blank">you need this book</a>. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #111111; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Has she had her vision tested? <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Your child may have a vision problem you don't know about, that can affect her ability and willingness to read. It's estimated that 5-10% of preschoolers and 25-40% of school age children have vision problems... and the earlier they are diagnosed, the better! </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Does he understand that letters have sounds and make up words? Does he understand that you read from left to right, top to bottom, front to back of the book? This is print awareness. So is recognizing that words are everywhere- on signs, on your cereal box, etc. </span></li>
<li style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Are your child's brain and eye development in sync? Some indicators include the ability to skip properly, ride a bike without training wheels, walk up stairs properly, and crossing the mid plane of the body (like drawing a rainbow from left to right without stopping). </span></span></li>
<li style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can he rhyme? Can he clap syllables? </span></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<div>
<b style="color: #340035; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ready? Set? Go! </b></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<div style="font-size: 15px; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px;">If your child is ready, great! You're more than qualified to teach him yourself! You don't even need a pricey curriculum. I share my favorite resources for teaching reading on my site; none of them are pricy and some are even free! Check them out here</span></span><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">: </span><a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2010/09/teaching-reading.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Teaching Children How to Read</a><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #340035; font-size: 15px;">If your child isn't quite ready, believe it or not, you're already teaching him! The best </span></span><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">pre-reading learning comes from these sources: </span></span></div>
<ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033; line-height: 24px;"><span style="border-width: 0px; color: #340035; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Real life learning... exploring the world around you & building vocabularies. Get some ideas <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2010/09/pre-schooling.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> and</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033; line-height: 24px;"><span style="border-width: 0px; color: #340035; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/05/outdoor-learning.html" rel="self" style="border: 0px; color: #cc0066; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="Outdoor Time">HERE</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033; line-height: 24px;"><span style="border-width: 0px; color: #340035; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="border: 0px; color: #111111; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #340035;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">Read-Aloud time... the child should be read aloud to every... single... day. Every day! Be sure to read my</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span></span><span style="border-width: 0px; color: #340035; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/04/read-aloud.html" rel="self" style="border: 0px; color: #cc0066; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="Read Aloud">Read Aloud</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span></span><span style="border-width: 0px; color: #340035; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">page if you haven't already. Also, every parent should read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/014312160X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=014312160X&linkCode=as2&tag=tracstrea-20" style="color: #ff32a9; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Read-Aloud Handbook</a> by Jim Trelease. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #340035;">Physical play... Don't underestimate the importance of active exercise and play! </span><a href="http://lauragraceweldon.com/2012/08/07/reading-readiness-has-to-do-with-the-body/" style="color: #ff32a9; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Reading readiness has to do with the body</a><span style="color: #340035;">. </span></li>
</span></ul>
</div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-size: 15px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><b>I</b></span></span><b style="color: #340035; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">s Your Home Reader-Friendly? </b><br />
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"></span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">
<div style="color: #111111;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033; line-height: 24px;"><span style="border-width: 0px; color: #340035; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In closing, I'll share Jim Trelease's three suggestions (the three B's) to make your home more reading friendly: </span></span></span></div>
<ol style="color: #111111;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033; line-height: 24px;"><span style="border-width: 0px; color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Books (Have lots of print available in your home!)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033; line-height: 24px;"><span style="border-width: 0px; color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Book Baskets (Place the print in a few locations throughout the house so it's handy to read in the living room, bedroom, play room, even the dining room table!)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033; line-height: 24px;"><span style="border-width: 0px; color: #340035; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bed Lamps (Have a set "lights-on" reading time before bed each night)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330033; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="border-width: 0px; color: #340035; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(2:90)</span></span> </span></span></span></li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-size: 15px;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-size: 15px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #111111;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-size: 15px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #330033; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">*** Go back to my </span><a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/p/reading-resources.html" style="color: #ff32a9; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none;">Reading Resources</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #330033; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> page! ***</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
--------------------------------------</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="color: #111111;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #111111;">
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: verdana, serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #111111; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Works Cited:</span></div>
<div style="color: #111111;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
</div>
<div style="color: #111111; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #111111;">1 John Taylor Gatto, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0945700040/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0945700040&linkCode=as2&tag=tracstrea-20" style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff32a9; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Underground History of American Education</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #111111;"><img alt="" border="0" class="pinme" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=tracstrea-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0945700040" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-size: 15px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #111111;">2 Jim Trelease, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143037390/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0143037390&linkCode=as2&tag=tracstrea-20" style="color: #ff32a9; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Read-Aloud Handbook: Sixth Edition</a><span style="color: #111111;"><img alt="" border="0" class="pinme" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=tracstrea-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0143037390" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></span><span style="color: #111111;">Oh, and in case you're wondering, Finland doesn't bother with gifted programs.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div style="color: #111111; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-size: 15px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-81341860876222217542016-07-12T10:28:00.000-05:002016-07-12T10:28:13.619-05:00Our Experience with Allergies, Eczema, Red Skin Syndrome & Topical Steroid Withdrawal <div style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
I wanted to have a single page linking to all of my posts on these topics, so here we go...</div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclkV8MpcrArnPWYHSwiHkBpBIneTJX_10WpVyn5Q48gTzD572GDAPPKKVmSC-umTfk5NO25o-8IjD6ZOVlpY1QMzhxK2rMyQAkLn0i91FdQfEbFOXb6lChh3v38M-5-g4wQ8iIawzikv8/s1600/allergies+eczema+rss+graphic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclkV8MpcrArnPWYHSwiHkBpBIneTJX_10WpVyn5Q48gTzD572GDAPPKKVmSC-umTfk5NO25o-8IjD6ZOVlpY1QMzhxK2rMyQAkLn0i91FdQfEbFOXb6lChh3v38M-5-g4wQ8iIawzikv8/s400/allergies+eczema+rss+graphic.jpg" width="332" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/10/my-four-year-old-experience-with.html" target="_blank">My Four-Year-Old's Experience with Allergies and Eczema</a> </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This is how we got started on this bumpy ride. </blockquote>
<div style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/10/my-four-year-old-is-addicted-to-topical.html" target="_blank">My Four-Year-Old Is Addicted to Topical Steroids</a> </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We used Hydrocortisone cream for my son's eczema, as directed by our doctor, and it gave him a red, itchy, burning, horrible skin condition called Red Skin Syndrome. </blockquote>
<div style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/10/two-weeks-tsw.html" target="_blank">Two Weeks into Topical Steroid Withdrawal</a> </div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/10/one-month-tsw.html" target="_blank">One Month into Topical Steroid Withdrawal</a> </div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/11/two-months-tsw.html" target="_blank">Two Months into Topical Steroid Withdrawal </a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Our turning point!!! I haven't written an update since then but my son is finally free from the grip of topical steroids. We now manage his eczema without them entirely and his skin is so much healthier because of it!</blockquote>
<div style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2016/07/rss-healing-butter-rss-zinc-butter.html" target="_blank">RSS Healing Butter and RSS Zinc Butter Recipes</a> </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This is what I used on my son's red skin during topical steroid withdrawal.</blockquote>
<div style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-25763953068779795572016-07-04T07:00:00.001-05:002016-07-12T15:41:00.051-05:00RSS Healing Butter & RSS Zinc Butter Recipes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 verdana\22 " , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">In honor of Independence Day, today I'll share a recipe with you that we used along the road to gaining independence from topical steroids for my son's eczema! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 verdana\22 " , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbRec8UwctB9w6iFBB0Dw6lmT_wRDvmOe0oPAkflQADuX8UtCkO8vDZJX3uMsVUBIQ1sfrwNelw-4-4Su2ZizMt4E3oCxlhFtYPMsjjCr6a9l-xuN-QiivGClRNUwHG3byA7LDSfQScrs/s1600/RSS+healing+butter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbRec8UwctB9w6iFBB0Dw6lmT_wRDvmOe0oPAkflQADuX8UtCkO8vDZJX3uMsVUBIQ1sfrwNelw-4-4Su2ZizMt4E3oCxlhFtYPMsjjCr6a9l-xuN-QiivGClRNUwHG3byA7LDSfQScrs/s320/RSS+healing+butter.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As you know, he went through the brutal process of <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/10/my-four-year-old-is-addicted-to-topical.html" target="_blank">topical steroid withdrawal</a>. After using topical steroids (over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream) on his eczema as directed by his doctor, he developed a worse condition known as Red Skin Syndrome. You can <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2016/07/our-experience-with-allergies-eczema.html">see my posts about it here</a>, but today what I want to share is the natural body butter recipe I formulated to help him through TSW. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This recipe can be used to make two different body butters: RSS Healing Butter (for all stages of TSW) and RSS Zinc Butter (for the raw, oozing stage). The only difference between the two is that one is made WITH and one is made WITHOUT zinc oxide. See my notes below about how I used them. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Here's what you need:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1/2 cup mango butter</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1/4 cup coconut oil</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1/4 cup sunflower oil</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1/2 tsp Vitamin E</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">OPTIONAL: If making RSS Zinc Butter, include 2 TBSP pharmaceutical grade zinc oxide (non-nano). If making RSS Healing Butter, skip it. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">15 drops each of:</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Frankincense</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lemongrass</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Melaleuca</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Helichrysum</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">German Chamomile</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lavender</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Myrrh</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Melt all but the essential oils together using the double broiler method. Let it chill in the refrigerator until it's beginning to firm up but isn't solid (it may take a few hours). Then whip it till peaks form. (I use <a href="http://amzn.to/1Qhd7YK" target="_blank">my immersion blender</a> for this.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Add essential oils. (If you have some, but not all of these oils on hand, start with what you do have!) Last, scoop into containers and chill. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbRorPG1B8xw_zVYJxF43yOlgnGI4rN1pDZjdJNRmOY1MxPKuf0JnD_Gm04B6oCSJQ3hj6kspzEMThAwJ0Jz6gBDJOjaU1PKq4OEHsOCLOSXbbXI9glUAS572-rcMwWMKnLychE4oCtB5/s1600/RSS+zinc+butter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbRorPG1B8xw_zVYJxF43yOlgnGI4rN1pDZjdJNRmOY1MxPKuf0JnD_Gm04B6oCSJQ3hj6kspzEMThAwJ0Jz6gBDJOjaU1PKq4OEHsOCLOSXbbXI9glUAS572-rcMwWMKnLychE4oCtB5/s320/RSS+zinc+butter.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "\22 verdana\22 " , sans-serif;"><b>How I Used Them... </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "\22 verdana\22 " , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "\22 verdana\22 " , sans-serif;">I used these two butters on my son during TSW and both were excellent throughout the process. I used the RSS Zinc Butter mostly when his skin was super red, raw, and oozing. It dried out the wet parts and he said it helped the itching. Even after TSW loosened its grip on us I used it on wet eczema. The RSS Healing Butter (same thing but no zinc powder) helped a great deal with itching and healing throughout all stages of TSW but we used it mainly when he was in the dry/flaking stage and for less extreme areas and non-oozing skin. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "\22 verdana\22 " , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Curious about when/how others used zinc creams vs. non-zinc creams during TSW, I posted a question in my TSA Caregivers group on Facebook. Everyone agreed that zinc creams were most helpful on angry, red, inflamed, itchy skin, especially if it has any oozing. They also found (like I did) that it helped them progress from the raw, oozing state to the dry, flaking stage of skin regeneration. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Beyond that, their uses varied. One mom (who makes and sells her TSW creams) layered her zinc cream underneath a lemongrass balm, using more zinc cream when her son was oozing and less when he wasn't. Others skip the zinc cream altogether </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">when</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> the skin doesn't need to be dried out from oozing. I included lemongrass oil in both butters so there's no need to layer them. Between my own experience and others, the consensus seems to be trying zinc for oozing and non-zinc for non-oozing stages, and go from there. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To read my posts of my son's experience with allergies, eczema, Red Skin Syndrome and topical steroid withdrawal, <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2016/07/our-experience-with-allergies-eczema.html">click HERE.</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For More Info about topical steroids, their addiction and withdrawal, check out <a href="http://www.itsan.org/" target="_blank">i</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.itsan.org/" target="_blank">tsan.org </a></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">*All <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/p/essential-oils.html" style="color: #ff32a9; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">essential oils</a> are NOT the same... in fact, o</i><i style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i>nly 2% of essential oils sold in North America are medicinal grade! P</i>lease <a href="http://www.tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2014/04/why-young-living.html" style="color: #ff32a9; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white;">read this</span></a>before buying any!</i></span>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-87943728582419878122016-06-20T07:00:00.001-05:002016-06-20T07:00:14.782-05:00DIY: Turn Any Blanket into a Carseat Canopy<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today's post is a quick fix to turn any baby blanket into a carseat canopy by sewing on two little loops. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3CbB-L5eeM8yUOCMqfD436NuOQUCAqEfRZGFEKZ2oTNjMqjsoBL8gE8fxXf4L7Nsxr303iMPvSZzCLp_4ooka8JbmEVaC-IjCFnhKirMqLkY9vkTRoQDDa3aBIMbCbwU9G3B7MqfYS1K/s1600/carseat+canopy+diy+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3CbB-L5eeM8yUOCMqfD436NuOQUCAqEfRZGFEKZ2oTNjMqjsoBL8gE8fxXf4L7Nsxr303iMPvSZzCLp_4ooka8JbmEVaC-IjCFnhKirMqLkY9vkTRoQDDa3aBIMbCbwU9G3B7MqfYS1K/s320/carseat+canopy+diy+1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What you'll need:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One baby blanket that's a good size to drape over your infant carrier</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">two scraps of fabric, 6" x 10" each</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">two big buttons</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">velcro</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">First cut your fabric into two pieces, 6" x 10" each...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1t4fDjxy9yC1jIS3ASvgBCzM3R4SX5CP0FXK4Wb5n11ly_AqqFxfo4sBG61FfhRo4NnMT8kth-vpWv7P_pBJiU80ekrRa_jc_IyO6upcW_P9rCtcMi3fs4406S7VSmy0FR7AeMX47j_C/s1600/canopy+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1t4fDjxy9yC1jIS3ASvgBCzM3R4SX5CP0FXK4Wb5n11ly_AqqFxfo4sBG61FfhRo4NnMT8kth-vpWv7P_pBJiU80ekrRa_jc_IyO6upcW_P9rCtcMi3fs4406S7VSmy0FR7AeMX47j_C/s320/canopy+1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next fold them in half lengthwise (wrong side out) and sew down the long side making it into a long tube... </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCGn4-phnwleRGi0IO7uu8gnXfl_PV1Mtk_lqJVhT5RA4MLqkxsL5Buvsw6NlopSOnPPk3X1iNfkGwpBGfaXwSxBwNFZghhWrh9hzMnlAYd-vI24msaSUYK4PwAp8c-lDuXhT2iQ9Z5CT/s1600/canopy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCGn4-phnwleRGi0IO7uu8gnXfl_PV1Mtk_lqJVhT5RA4MLqkxsL5Buvsw6NlopSOnPPk3X1iNfkGwpBGfaXwSxBwNFZghhWrh9hzMnlAYd-vI24msaSUYK4PwAp8c-lDuXhT2iQ9Z5CT/s320/canopy+2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Roll the seam to the center, then sew one end closed...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzuM2j21FCPOqK_LjQp-_SKYojd443OxblNNbdRwMZEREIwP67yUbixtDTX-h5GoARWjbM96WXecpWCBY2zkPw52vj11dSofu-MoNxGeVTRy3Gy-9q1IdHsq9kSxx8Syjq6j7GMMVTKvs/s1600/canopy+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzuM2j21FCPOqK_LjQp-_SKYojd443OxblNNbdRwMZEREIwP67yUbixtDTX-h5GoARWjbM96WXecpWCBY2zkPw52vj11dSofu-MoNxGeVTRy3Gy-9q1IdHsq9kSxx8Syjq6j7GMMVTKvs/s320/canopy+3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Turn each piece right side out, roll the raw edge under and sew it closed... </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVE7F5guKeuReoQdlF5z3hpWeRkbCtIStauuYUHQq_Vci0ybssZ-uUyaOt_OmVesAUuelTYvI7I8EBrzNf9fzA2KxqQfa40VipeAJluonMB3vHWl-6NSXVKk_MtXALaMfw-QiTkHbFlbe/s1600/canopy+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVE7F5guKeuReoQdlF5z3hpWeRkbCtIStauuYUHQq_Vci0ybssZ-uUyaOt_OmVesAUuelTYvI7I8EBrzNf9fzA2KxqQfa40VipeAJluonMB3vHWl-6NSXVKk_MtXALaMfw-QiTkHbFlbe/s320/canopy+4.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Using your carseat handle as a guide for placement, sew velcro in place so each strip secures comfortably around the handle... </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_KpBBJXPi7k84VNnGtHrY0vgSBY972yRsENNGJDdRX0JI54BCw_jzwMLrJQEF5uAtLzHpdE2lIy_UbmSxEanST4fM4umghtJQZDnZwpwME6sAva4VM5hc5cN8YEj1VojI0jXe9qQkCFj/s1600/canopy+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_KpBBJXPi7k84VNnGtHrY0vgSBY972yRsENNGJDdRX0JI54BCw_jzwMLrJQEF5uAtLzHpdE2lIy_UbmSxEanST4fM4umghtJQZDnZwpwME6sAva4VM5hc5cN8YEj1VojI0jXe9qQkCFj/s320/canopy+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Add a button to each one for looks. Now the front and back of the two strips should look like this... </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW35BKDR9z8v5iF2ODuk3AMOfiYYo_JoTXvlw9bKv6Z4iAzfsDVtdbcCkvUI-QbeKobwJn3aqL9qSh-KmAToyNLEfCHofihwydA510FroDJDTKaQ-F3tC0TAt6PK2ATo-eXlAlkxiGQX0v/s1600/canopy+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW35BKDR9z8v5iF2ODuk3AMOfiYYo_JoTXvlw9bKv6Z4iAzfsDVtdbcCkvUI-QbeKobwJn3aqL9qSh-KmAToyNLEfCHofihwydA510FroDJDTKaQ-F3tC0TAt6PK2ATo-eXlAlkxiGQX0v/s320/canopy+7.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pin your strips to the desired place on your blanket and then attach by sewing a single line across the back of the strip to the blanket... (be sure to double check that you like the placement with them pinned in place BEFORE sewing)... </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZqkF_uuLLrl5JiUNmDLRh8PLd6o4wRVyhFvzSfX-YrR5bn6Q7i1TvtxTaxXBX1wWOHIergq8kRViXWTNR_TrtBbBpOhiHp2Y4q8ytSXXXMuU3lEtDBSpte9IWHMTDhgNbHn0f3bBa8i1/s1600/canopy+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZqkF_uuLLrl5JiUNmDLRh8PLd6o4wRVyhFvzSfX-YrR5bn6Q7i1TvtxTaxXBX1wWOHIergq8kRViXWTNR_TrtBbBpOhiHp2Y4q8ytSXXXMuU3lEtDBSpte9IWHMTDhgNbHn0f3bBa8i1/s320/canopy+9.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now enjoy your cute little carseat canopy! </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJGs0fwdr4WBJp9xdnfQDfP2HH6NFCJD8QoiGCdb_1HXkpjWvX48UpPVLf4ESFhapoJXl-Js_JBDgifTv4kVeAiMPkwUrqiy_SzCdVc0r-tABCWX1CHO7oHPSCy5zt6CGULMj-X_o68Br/s1600/carseat+canopy+diy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJGs0fwdr4WBJp9xdnfQDfP2HH6NFCJD8QoiGCdb_1HXkpjWvX48UpPVLf4ESFhapoJXl-Js_JBDgifTv4kVeAiMPkwUrqiy_SzCdVc0r-tABCWX1CHO7oHPSCy5zt6CGULMj-X_o68Br/s320/carseat+canopy+diy+2.jpg" width="269" /></span></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-67131752917762053232016-06-06T22:53:00.000-05:002017-06-15T16:26:46.166-05:00Tracy's Treasury of Picture Books for Toddlers & Young School-Aged Children<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_159g4stst7-s8tP-UqXgOt65FszwJIvNVZWMO0N3GgWWns3ySAKL72n2ixulzCz4u9lNkvNQA3UQy3it7OM8ANn3ld39XgRf7qaG6E89vCNm-eunLJ5nCiXTi09R_QOR2ttRJNp9NON3/s1600/readingmoonforwalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_159g4stst7-s8tP-UqXgOt65FszwJIvNVZWMO0N3GgWWns3ySAKL72n2ixulzCz4u9lNkvNQA3UQy3it7OM8ANn3ld39XgRf7qaG6E89vCNm-eunLJ5nCiXTi09R_QOR2ttRJNp9NON3/s1600/readingmoonforwalk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #330033; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font: normal normal normal 20px / normal "verdana" , serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><i style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I hope you're ready for more of our tried-and-true, family-favorite books! Today's books are our favorite stories for little ones. They fit the following criteria: </span></i></div>
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They're picture books with real pages. (This is a step up from our <a href="http://www.tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2016/01/tracys-treasury-of-sturdy-books-for.html" target="_blank">Sturdy Books for Babies & Toddlers</a>.)</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They're quality children's books (twaddle-free, well-written & well-illustrated). I'll try not to go off on a tangent about all the sub-par kids books available today which I'd liken to a junk food diet in book form. If it's annoying or lacks redeeming qualities, it gets the boot.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My boys love them. These have been tested, tried and true by my boys, who have read them to pieces. They're keepers. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ready for some great picture books? Here we go.. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Picture Book Read Alouds... </b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/1JQicAU" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><i>The Tale of Peter Rabbit</i></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i> </i>by Beatrix Potter - This is a classic picture book that </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">both of my "big boys" love and have listened to over and over and over again. It provides good opportunities to talk about various lessons learned too, which is always a bonus. The story is also available in large collections with other Beatrix Potter stories, but the small, hardcover book is the way to go. It's how it was originally published, and is an ideal size for little hands and includes all the original illustrations. I think picking a couple of the little individual books </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(like </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tale-Jemima-Puddle-Duck-Peter-Rabbit/dp/0723247781/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=16F7YA9MQRHZSR6DPRBK" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><i>The Tale of Jemima Puddleduck</i></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1UVQkB4" target="_blank">The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies</a></i>, or <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0723234752/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=33HMG3B8J6SK7&coliid=I1WEOHQPKDAN5J" target="_blank">The Tale of Samuel Whiskers</a></i>) </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">is preferable to a large volume of all of them</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> that won't get read as much. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/1TObnWd" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><i>Where the Wild Things Are</i></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> by Maurice Sendak - This is a well-loved favorite at our house. The kids like to "roar their terrible roars, gnash their terrible teeth, roll their terrible eyes, and show their terrible claws" along with the wild things in the book. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1ZBSOvj" target="_blank">Where oh Where is Huggle Buggle Bear?</a></i> by Katherine Sully - This is a cute book about a teddy bear who's hiding when it's time for bed. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1Ow415W" target="_blank">All Things Bright and Beautiful</a></i> by Cecil Francis Alexander - This is a lovely song put into book form with equally lovely illustrations. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1Q3PFfK" target="_blank">But No Elephants</a></i> by Jerry Smath - I loved this book as a child and our children love it now. It's about a grandma who takes in animals one by one till she has quite a house full. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1Q3PIZd" target="_blank">The Monster at the End of This Book</a></i> (and <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1UVQGYA" target="_blank">Another Monster at the End of This Book</a></i>) by Jon Stone - I guarantee that your kids will crack up when you read these books to them. My brothers and I loved the first book when we were little, our kids love it now, and the sequel too. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1Ow49mb" target="_blank">The Complete Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs </a></i>by Judi Barrett - If I had a dollar for every time I've read this book, I'd be a rich woman. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1Ow4buj" target="_blank">Curious George</a></i> by H.A. Rey - Who doesn't love Curious George? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1P53bTk" target="_blank">The Little Red Hen</a></i> by Paul Galdone - I read several versions of this story from our library before choosing the best one to buy. Some of them wreck the morale of the story and have the hen share her cake (which she worked very hard on) with the lazy animals who did no work. This one gets it right. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1ZBTzof" target="_blank">The Cat in the Hat</a></i> by Dr. Seuss </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1Q3Qh5e" target="_blank">Horton Hears a Who</a></i> by Dr. Seuss</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1ZBTMaO" target="_blank">Dr. Seuss's ABC</a> </i></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by Dr. Seuss</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1P53vBI" target="_blank">Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? </a></i>by Bill Martin Jr. - This was one of my favorites in Kindergarten, and my boys have enjoyed it too. It's repetitive and predictable, so they chime in with what's coming next. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1P53AFj" target="_blank">I Took the Moon for a Walk</a></i> by Carolyn Curtis and Alison Jay - This was one of our Kindergarten books that I had to re-check out from the library until they wouldn't let us keep it any longer so I finally bought it. My boys love it. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1Q3QF3y" target="_blank">Just One More Swim</a></i> by Carolin Pitcher and Jenny Jones - this is a sweet story of how a mother bear coaxes her cubs to jump in the water and swim for the first time. The pictures are lovely and the wording is rich. It's a good one. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1ZBUu87" target="_blank">The Beautiful World that God Made</a></i> by Rhonda Gowler Greene - This is a poetic telling of creation. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1P53Lk2" target="_blank">How to Catch a Star</a></i> by Oliver Jeffers - This is the story of a little boy who finally catches a star of his very own. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1JRwIxI" target="_blank"><i>If You Give a Pig a Party</i></a> by Laura Joffe Numeroff (and <a href="http://amzn.to/1Qe2GW8" target="_blank">If You Give a Moose a Muffin</a>) - These silly stories are funny to kids because in the end they end up right back where they started. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1Pyk6rU" target="_blank">What Makes a Rainbow?</a></i> by Betty Schwartz - This is a neat little rainbow book. Every time you turn the page, another ribbon color pulls across the page, adding to the rainbow. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1Q6cjUT" target="_blank">3 in 1 (A Picture of God)</a></i> by Joanne Marxhausen - This unique book helps children visualize God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in a way that's easy to understand. Watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltw2J6k7E-M" target="_blank">this You Tube video</a> to see what it says. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So So Sweet...</b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1JRwUNe" target="_blank">I Love You More</a> </i>by Laura Duksta - This book is beyond sweet. A boy asks his mom how much she loves him and she tells him in verse. Then you flip the book upside down and read it from the back cover, and the mom asks her son how much he loves her and he tells her in verse. It is so incredibly sweet, and kids love that it reads front to back then back to front. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1Qe2XIJ" target="_blank"><i>Hush, Little Horsie </i></a>by Jane Yolen - This beautifully illustrated book shows how Mama horse comforts her baby. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1Qe30Ea" target="_blank">I'll Love You Forever </a></i>by Robert Munsch - This tells the story of a mother and her son from the time he's a baby till he's an adult and she's elderly. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1JRx5YY" target="_blank">You and Me Little Bear </a></i>by Martin Waddell - Read how big bear and little bear spend their days together. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1P7alXo" target="_blank">Wherever You Are, My Love Will Find You</a></i> by Nancy Tillman - This magically illustrated book has a lovely flowing verse telling about how much the child is wanted and how your love will follow them anywhere. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1PiVBP1" target="_blank">What Baby Needs</a></i> by William Sears, M.D. - This is one of my two favorite books for children who are about to have a baby brother or sister. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1n9NVIH" target="_blank">Hello Baby!</a> </i>by Lizzy Rockwell - This is the other one of my </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">two favorite books for children who are about to have a baby brother or sister. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></b><br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Earth Science Read Alouds...</b></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1P7auKm" target="_blank">Faces of the Moon</a></i> by Bob Crelin - This book combines poetic language with a really neat introduction to the lunar phases of the moon. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://amzn.to/1JQoGj9" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;" target="_blank"><i>How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World </i></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">by Faith McNulty - Take an adventure through the layers of the earth!</span><br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1PynAdR" target="_blank">Why Does It Rain?</a> and </i></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1n9NA90" target="_blank">What is a Rainbow?</a> </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">by Chris Arvetis - Both of these are really old, but great books, though they may be hard to come by. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1PyqYW6" target="_blank">Water Dance</a> </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">by Thomas Locker - This is a lovely book following water as it moves through out the earth. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1n9Ngaf" target="_blank">Oh Can You Say What's the Weather Today?</a> </i>by Tish Rabe - </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This is from the Cat in the Hat's Learning Library. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1JRynDn" target="_blank">I Can Name 50 Trees Today</a> </i>by Bonnie Worth - This is also from the Cat in the Hat's Learning Library. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Animal Science Read Alouds...</b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1PiVK4I" target="_blank">The Bee Tree</a></i> by Patricia Polocco - A girl discovers the joy of learning while on an exciting search for a bee tree! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1n9MtWZ" target="_blank">Chickens Aren't the Only Ones</a> </i>by Ruth Heller - This book is about the variety of animals who lay eggs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1PymOO3" target="_blank">Animals Born Alive and Well </a></i>by Ruth Heller - This book is similar to the previous one but is about animals born alive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1n9O2UH" target="_blank">The Year at Maple Hill Farm </a></i>by Alice and Martin Provensen - This book is a great way to see what happens all over a farm throughout the year!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1n9Okeb" target="_blank">Our Animal Friends</a> </i>by Alice and Martin Provensen - If you like the previous book, check out this one too. It brings farm animals to life with their spunk and personalities. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://amzn.to/1K6LbWF" style="font-family: '"verdana"', sans-serif; text-align: justify;" target="_blank">The World's Greatest Lion</a><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> by Ralph Helfer - This is the real story of one lion's life (the MGM lion), and we checked it out from the library over and over again till we reached our limit. I'm planning to get it for our soon-to-be five-year-old's birthday this year. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1Pyoyqp" target="_blank">It's Moving Day!</a> </i>by Pamela Hickman - Meet all the different animals who move in and out of one burrow. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1PyqVcU" target="_blank"><i>Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out!</i> </a>by April Pulley Sayre - This enjoyable book follows a sea turtle's life from the time of hatching from an egg to the time of laying her own eggs. It was another library book that we kept re-checking until I finally bought it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1n9S5jK" target="_blank">Octopus' Den</a> </i>by Deirdre Langleland - Follow an octopus for a day through this award-winning book with beautiful watercolor illustrations. See how he moves, changes, and avoids lurking dangers of life under the sea. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1JRA0kx" target="_blank">Grandma Elephant's In Charge</a> </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">by Martin Jenkins - Learn about elephants through this picture book that follows a matriarch and her herd. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1RN6KhU" target="_blank">How to Hide a Meadow Frog & Other Amphibians</a> </i>by Ruth Heller - Discover the wonders of </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">camouflage! Similar books include <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1PiYCih" target="_blank">How to Hide a Butterfly & Other Insects</a> and <a href="http://amzn.to/1JRBn2G" target="_blank">How to Hide an Octopus & Other Sea Creatures</a>, and <a href="http://amzn.to/1RN6Ndr" target="_blank">How to Hide a Crocodile & other Reptiles</a>. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Read and Find Out Books...</b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">All of the following books come from the Read-and-Find-out series. Rather than classifying them as read-aloud picture books (like the entire list up to this point), I'd classify these as more formal science picture books. We used them for many of our kindergarten science discovery units, as they introduce the subjects in a very child-friendly way. </span><br />
<br />
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1RNasIb" target="_blank">Ant Cities</a> </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">by Arthur Dorros</span><br />
<br />
<i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1Qej0WZ" target="_blank">How Do You Know What Time it Is? </a></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">by Robert E. Wells</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1JRykHv" target="_blank">What Will the Weather Be?</a> </i>by Lynda DeWitt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1RNawI5" target="_blank">The Planets in Our Solar System</a> </i>by Franklyn M. Branley</span><br />
<br />
<i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1RNazU4" target="_blank">Sunshine Makes the Seasons </a></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">by Franklyn M. Branley</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1Rt8qfK" target="_blank">Penguin Chick</a> </i>by Betty Tatham</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1RNayzv" target="_blank">What Lives in a Shell</a> </i>by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1Kk7ToP" target="_blank">A Nest Full of Eggs</a> </i>by Priscilla Belz Jenkins</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1RNaDTQ" target="_blank">From Tadpole to Frog</a> </i>by Wendy Pfeffer </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://From Caterpillar to Butterfly" target="_blank">From Caterpillar to Butterfly</a> </i>by Deborah Heiligman</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1RNaHTH" target="_blank">My Five Senses</a> </i>by Aliki</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Look and Find Books...</b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/1JQp0yq" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">1001 Animals to Spot</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1VxHqLg" target="_blank">1001 Bugs to Spot</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1VxH6fx" target="_blank">Dinosaurs Look & Find</a></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D2150858247289954400%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dsidebar&media=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-8E4omshjIBo%2FUcx_cgRZaKI%2FAAAAAAAAA7k%2FBW-QGUUNJg8%2Fs1600%2Freadingmoonforwalk.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=bLLaDoje0Mqw&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 193px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D2150858247289954400%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dsidebar&media=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-8E4omshjIBo%2FUcx_cgRZaKI%2FAAAAAAAAA7k%2FBW-QGUUNJg8%2Fs1600%2Freadingmoonforwalk.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=bLLaDoje0Mqw&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 193px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D2150858247289954400%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dsidebar&media=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-8E4omshjIBo%2FUcx_cgRZaKI%2FAAAAAAAAA7k%2FBW-QGUUNJg8%2Fs1600%2Freadingmoonforwalk.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=bLLaDoje0Mqw&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 193px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D2150858247289954400%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dsidebar&media=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-8E4omshjIBo%2FUcx_cgRZaKI%2FAAAAAAAAA7k%2FBW-QGUUNJg8%2Fs1600%2Freadingmoonforwalk.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=bLLaDoje0Mqw&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 193px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2150858247289954400" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2150858247289954400" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-73822446779144936952016-05-09T19:47:00.000-05:002016-05-09T19:47:00.170-05:00Draw With Your Kids!<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you have kids in your life, you need to bookmark this fabulous resource! My sister-in-law shared it with me and I just love it. There's an artist who makes you tube videos with his kids as he gives them a step-by-step drawing lesson. There are some simple ones, good for younger kids (his youngest is age two), and others for more advanced drawers. Here's the stegosauruses we made on our first lesson (mine, my 3 yo and 6 yo)...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKn6vc5tg9dRbUnyDe_Yki8aUroRji7SvWNGOm72GaVG-WtXfb2BiPgYiCR3V9RJEHFMxo1sOtjRc9t-Hw5Bd0b2tiwpY5eQfGrycz6rR-MqZiuL1A0Jpbaq3OR-OXYnZwss-3MyO383G5/s1600/1-22+first+drawing+lesson+all+three.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKn6vc5tg9dRbUnyDe_Yki8aUroRji7SvWNGOm72GaVG-WtXfb2BiPgYiCR3V9RJEHFMxo1sOtjRc9t-Hw5Bd0b2tiwpY5eQfGrycz6rR-MqZiuL1A0Jpbaq3OR-OXYnZwss-3MyO383G5/s400/1-22+first+drawing+lesson+all+three.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And here's a more recent pictur we made for groundhog day (mine, my 4 yo and 7 yo)...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMgwSsZoiiOBmnrG8y5eczOiC2WQBbB_TFk-46JxuySG_rvZje-VDeKz3GOAqOClhvBHBgq8YtMkHqMbzqECOxmTML0JWPrNC5MaPPfN3wggTK2cpaY6HbMl5swl4BQ6gWHfuqhxmyOvY/s1600/2-04+our+groundhog+drawings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMgwSsZoiiOBmnrG8y5eczOiC2WQBbB_TFk-46JxuySG_rvZje-VDeKz3GOAqOClhvBHBgq8YtMkHqMbzqECOxmTML0JWPrNC5MaPPfN3wggTK2cpaY6HbMl5swl4BQ6gWHfuqhxmyOvY/s400/2-04+our+groundhog+drawings.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He has instructional videos for drawing, painting, sculpting, and even origami with kids. The subjects range from animals to star wars to plants to zombies to Frozen characters. I just love it! Thank you Mandy for sharing it with me!! :)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Here is a link to <a href="http://artforkidshub.com/" target="_blank">his website, Art for Kids Hub.</a> And here's a link to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ArtforKidsHub" target="_blank">his you tube channel</a>. Enjoy!!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D2150858247289954400%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D4145645780669355107%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D6%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-QNvpivB-c70%2FVr6KST0jhBI%2FAAAAAAAAD9Q%2FKqpmnOEE7Sk%2Fs400%2F2-04%252Bour%252Bgroundhog%252Bdrawings.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=bLLaDoje0Mqw&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 153px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 300px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D2150858247289954400%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D4145645780669355107%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D6%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-QNvpivB-c70%2FVr6KST0jhBI%2FAAAAAAAAD9Q%2FKqpmnOEE7Sk%2Fs400%2F2-04%252Bour%252Bgroundhog%252Bdrawings.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=bLLaDoje0Mqw&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 153px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 300px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-86337725516454794632016-04-25T07:00:00.000-05:002018-03-23T13:54:02.329-05:00My Favorite Charlotte Mason Resources<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGpnFXgLexVHx32SXQA3pzWW_cMuqbBsJWvLVI3Ckt5BEOrR-82MabUjhEL68NeM9K7YjuMXz-v2JrAfYdNqT7xLfi1tKtopsQwA2ECP1q4hZ-BbE9vM_g7H9aQOaZ9Gps6U5q-gs16X0/s1600/Charlotte_Mason_1902_Frederic_Yates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGpnFXgLexVHx32SXQA3pzWW_cMuqbBsJWvLVI3Ckt5BEOrR-82MabUjhEL68NeM9K7YjuMXz-v2JrAfYdNqT7xLfi1tKtopsQwA2ECP1q4hZ-BbE9vM_g7H9aQOaZ9Gps6U5q-gs16X0/s200/Charlotte_Mason_1902_Frederic_Yates.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's <a href="https://charlottemason.com/charlotte-mason/" target="_blank">A Peek at Charlotte Mason Education</a>, for those who aren't familiar with it already! There's an abundance of great Charlotte Mason resources available to homeschoolers. Here are my favorites...</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Living Books...</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://apps.simplycharlottemason.com/" style="color: #ff32a9; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Living book search</a> - This is a great resource! Use it to find living books by subject and reading level. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/06/supplementing-mystery-of-history-with.html" target="_blank">The Ultimate Living Book List</a> for History Studies! I arranged living books (recommended by Sonlight and Simply Charlotte Mason) chronologically, by level, to supplement our history studies. These could be used with any history study. </span></li>
</ul>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 verdana\22 " , sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Narration...</b></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/08/better-than-worksheets-quizzes-tests.html" target="_blank">Better Than Worksheets, Quizzes, and Tests!</a> </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://simplycharlottemason.com/blog/raising-bar-narration-q-part-15/" target="_blank">Raising the Bar</a> - This post tells how to raise the bar on narration as children grow older and more experienced. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://simplycharlottemason.com/timesavers/narration/" target="_blank">Narration Ideas</a> - Check out this GREAT list of 60 different narration ideas! </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Nature Study...</b></span></div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: '"verdana"', sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1nS3Prb" target="_blank">Wild Days, Creating Discovery Journals</a></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> by Karen Skidmore Rackliffe - This is a short, motivational book of how one mom implemented nature days and discovery journals in her homeschool. She shares good ideas and excerpts from their nature journals, both of which helped me get started with nature study.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://verymom.com/2011/08/29/completely-in-love-with-nature-journals/" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Completely in Love with Nature Journals</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> - This mom's blog post shows inside their journals and tells what all they bring in their back packs. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://handbookofnaturestudy.com/" target="_blank">Handbook of Nature Study blog</a> - If you're just getting started, maybe these outdoor hour challenges will get you going. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Field Guides - I think the best bet are ones specific to your state or region. I highly suggest checking out a bunch from the library and trying them out before buying one, to figure out which ones you like best. I found a great bird identification book this way. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1WQmG1X" target="_blank">National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America</a></i> - I liked this tree field guide better than those specific to my state, so I use both. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.enature.com/home/" target="_blank">eNature: An online field guide</a> - I've consulted this site a couple times identifying our finds.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/05/outdoor-learning.html" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Outdoor Learning</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> - Here's some tips and ideas for the wee ones. </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 verdana\22 " , sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">CM Philosophy...</span></b></div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: start;"><a href="http://www.tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/12/classic-education-charlotte-mason-way.html" target="_blank">Classic Education... The Charlotte Mason Way</a></span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Free Downloads...</span></b></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-new-improved-home-education-planner.html" target="_blank">Free, Downloadable CM Cover Art</a> for a Home Education Planner</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #340035;"><span style="border: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/store/samples/Education-Is.pdf" rel="external" style="border: 0px; color: #cc0066; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="Free e-book: "Education Is "">Free e-book</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #340035;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #340035;"><span style="border: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">with helpful tips and encouraging ideas. </span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 verdana\22 " , sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Curriculum...</b></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/curriculum-guide/" style="color: #ff32a9; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">SCM Curriculum guide</a><span style="color: #340035;"> from Simply Charlotte Mason... This is the curriculum I prefer between these two choices since SCM is</span> structured to allow you to teach children of various grades together. They also offer very reasonably priced teacher's guides so you don't have to make your own lesson plans from scratch. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amblesideonline.org/" target="_blank">Ambleside</a> is a free CM curriculum guide, but it requires you to make your own lesson plans. </span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 verdana\22 " , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "\22 verdana\22 " , sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On My Bookshelf...</span></b></b></div>
<b>
</b>
<br />
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1UuDMAF" target="_blank"><i>Home Education</i></a>, by Charlotte Mason... This is the original series by CM herself, which was a great help to shape my view of education. (You can </span><a href="https://www.amblesideonline.org/CM/toc.html" target="_blank">read it for free</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> online.)</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1UuDTw6" target="_blank"><i>For The Children's Sak</i>e</a> by Susan Schaeffer Mucaulay - This one puts Charlotte Mason's ideas and methods into practical application for modern parents and home schoolers. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1UuE6iB" target="_blank"><i>The Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning</i></a> by Karen Andrea - This is what I'm currently reading and have been getting so many good ideas from it! It renewed the "why" and "how" behind our home school. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1OLulbD" target="_blank"><i>Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition</i></a> by Karen Glass - This is an interesting read for those who are already familiar with Charlotte Mason. It shows her relation to classical education. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://simplycharlottemason.com/store/hearing-and-reading-telling-and-writing-a-charlotte-mason-language-arts-handbook/" target="_blank"><i>Hearing and Reading, Telling and Writing: A Charlotte Mason Language Arts Handbook</i></a> by Sonya Shaffer - This one is pretty self explanatory. I found it very helpful when trying to figure out our game plan for a CM-style Language Arts program. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-64649324286102916372016-04-11T19:02:00.000-05:002016-04-11T19:02:01.039-05:00How We Use Victory Drill to Build Reading Speed<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Have you ever heard of the </span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KL8SP8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000KL8SP8&linkCode=as2&tag=tracstrea-20&linkId=RQETF6MXQXMAFT6C" style="color: #ff32a9; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Victory Drill Book</a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">? I heard about it from another home school mom while we were both stuck waiting in a doctor's office waiting room. It's a basic, no-fluff book you can use in a variety of ways, over and over again for multiple children to strengthen their reading skills. The bulk of the book amounts to a series of word lists, generally grouped by a common phonics or spelling rules, and the lists progress from simple (including at, sat, mat & rat) to advanced (awkwardly, Americanism, extraordinary & Mississippi). Victory Drill may be used to build reading speed and fluency for students in any grade. It can also be used when teaching reading, spelling, or phonics rules. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"></span></span></span><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ChYkYX0Z6ralMs60ZFf2zr0SIHScvpSepN5ya5GQSdK1Vf9cc2oZEYB2LVLkL45_h7LnXZskDhYFQZRJCPV2fIlLLN1H9QWV2z6gbkJ5wPGNEo2KhGyd9-i7nlsDJWcjCcEE00IsNgqt/s640/blogger-image--130805914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ChYkYX0Z6ralMs60ZFf2zr0SIHScvpSepN5ya5GQSdK1Vf9cc2oZEYB2LVLkL45_h7LnXZskDhYFQZRJCPV2fIlLLN1H9QWV2z6gbkJ5wPGNEo2KhGyd9-i7nlsDJWcjCcEE00IsNgqt/s400/blogger-image--130805914.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Since I taught my son to read without using a traditional phonics program (<a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/04/learning-to-read-what-worked-for-us.html" target="_blank">here's how</a>), we used Victory Drill to reinforce spelling and phonics rules while building his reading speed. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">After using it for over a year, we've settled into a routine with it. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><b>Here's how we use it...</b></span></span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Day 1:</span></span></span></div>
<ol>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I introduce the new page and teach the phonics or spelling rule used, which is written at the bottom of the page. We read the words together and if any are new to him I tell him what they mean. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have him read the page aloud to me. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Focusing on one column, I say the words in random order and have him find them. </span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Day 2 and following:</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">He reads the page of words to himself. Then we repeat steps two and three together. We progress through the page at his pace, spending fifteen minutes (or less) on it per day. After five days if he's made it through all five columns of words and he knows them pretty well, then it's time to test out. If he's not ready to test out yet then we stay on the same page, reviewing it as many days as we need to for him to learn them. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="background-color: white;">IF we're using it for spelling then I add a 4th and 5th step. Step 4: </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111;">Focusing on the same column, I quiz his spelling. Step 5: I note any words he mis-spells and he writes them down correctly. </span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><b>How we review words...</b> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Several ideas are given in the introduction, including: </span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Me saying a word and him finding it on the page (This is my preferred method of review, and it gets him reading the same words faster and faster. It turns what used to be sound-out words into quickly-read sight words.)</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I describe a word and have him find it. For example, if I want him to find the word "jam" I'd say "This is another word for jelly. I like to eat it on toast."</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He can find how many times a word is repeated on a page. (We don't do this one much.)</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We practice using the words in sentences. (I really just do this when there's a need to. Like I said, I generally stick to the first idea.)</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also bought the Victory Drill Book worksheets. There is one sheet for each page of the VDB. It's a fun & easy way for him to practice using the words. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don't worry about how many steps are completed in one day, we just pick up where we left off the previous day. It's all about the repetition. He sees the same words many times over several days until he knows them. For those who want to try some simple games with the words, check out Ruth Beechick's <a href="http://amzn.to/1SpTMoL" target="_blank">Three R's</a>. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>How we test out...</b> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When he's doing well with the words and I think he's ready, he tests out. I time him for one minute and see how many words he can read correctly in that time. There are suggested scores per grade level but you'll quickly find your own child's level. If he reads the required number of words per minute then the page is passed and he begins learning the next page. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(If we are using it for spelling as well, then I'd quiz his spelling too.)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><b>The good and bad...</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Doing this program is definitely SIMPLE. It's just a matter of sitting down every day and working on it for 10-15 minutes at his pace. It relies entirely on repetition... the fact that he's seeing the same words over and over again puts those words, correctly spelled, into his brain. We're re-inforcing phonetic and spelling rules, which will help him decode new words he encounters. At the same time, he's building speed on the common words and no longer has to sound them out. To me this is a win-win and a good combination of phonics and sight-reading techniques. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will admit that it gets a little old since it's so repetitive. That's why we started breaking it up a little... After he tests out of a page then we take a break from Victory Drill for a week or more and he spends the time reading aloud to me from a book instead. Then we go back to Victory Drill again until he tests out of another page. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The beauty of the program is that it can be used for ANY age. Older students and </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">better readers use the very same book, but their reading speed is higher so their test-out speed is higher too. The mom who recommended this book said she used it off and on with her children through the years. They didn't do it every year, but would focus on it for an entire school year and then put it aside for a few years before doing it again. She said that did wonders for her children's reading speed. I think she said they used it around 4th and 8th grade. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">We've used it in first and second grade, and it's been beneficial for my son. So far every page he's passed he tested out at a faster reading speed than he did on the previous page. So he's steadily been improving his reading speed, and he no longer sounds out words that he used to. He just sees them and knows them. He's also picked up some phonics and spelling rules that have been helpful. We plan to continue at his pace the rest of this school year, then take a break from it after that. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<b style="color: #111111;">Who It's For...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">I'd recommend Victory Drill Book to any one looking for a simple program to improve reading speed. Just realize that you'll either have to be ok with the repetitiveness of it, or be ok with taking little breaks from it. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-41456457806693551072016-03-28T07:00:00.000-05:002016-03-28T07:00:04.787-05:00Easy DIY Infinity Scarf / Nursing Cover<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today I'll show you how you can turn one yard of fabric into an infinity scarf. I</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">f you happen to have a baby, it can double as a nursing cover. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All you need is a yard of fabric (plus yarn and preferably a sewing machine). I chose a t-shirt type knit material which doesn't fray. This is fabulous since I don't have to hem the edges, and it's light and breathable. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mql1QCyCKjAmjyCdl921mP3iYBPn3vdbCynKPaTTCDXd0dnTDmkbBZ4m4_Cuy88-2G38nayahE6IqZ_rdm0cZE52CJStFRTG8NIHN6WlZuKpi_4HnNuel5IMT_tYj4ITISD4dUxEt3PD/s1600/1+fabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mql1QCyCKjAmjyCdl921mP3iYBPn3vdbCynKPaTTCDXd0dnTDmkbBZ4m4_Cuy88-2G38nayahE6IqZ_rdm0cZE52CJStFRTG8NIHN6WlZuKpi_4HnNuel5IMT_tYj4ITISD4dUxEt3PD/s320/1+fabric.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The only time-consuming part of the project is trimming your fabric to make it nice and square. Exact measurements aren't required, but you'll want it around 1 yard long (or longer, depending how long you like your scarf) by 30" wide. I bought a fabric remnant that was barely a yard long, and if anything I would have added a few extra inches to its length. Regardless of how long you make it, trim it to a 30" width. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>*Note to those who like to tweak things: I tried having it an extra ten inches wide but that made the finished scarf too bulky, so I went back down to the standard 30". </i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0H2pRuPPRVrRMzKxG5E335jZorG3C1NZWBmEuvz0O1nQEvVukqvSxHAA4heT1kIY-gGWyxxVXAm3sJzncGOdbbD1uqKSegNl6bX2Bq6Wfz_lcZ_PWo_fCpcTYfk480yM9v6AQTdXdNPY/s1600/2+trim+edges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0H2pRuPPRVrRMzKxG5E335jZorG3C1NZWBmEuvz0O1nQEvVukqvSxHAA4heT1kIY-gGWyxxVXAm3sJzncGOdbbD1uqKSegNl6bX2Bq6Wfz_lcZ_PWo_fCpcTYfk480yM9v6AQTdXdNPY/s320/2+trim+edges.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At this point you can hem the long edges if you wish. I didn't, since I chose a non-fraying material. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After trimming the edges, I sewed the two shorter (30") edges together, which made the fabric into a big tube (an infinity scarf). </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTN4pZdh4ebo6wJyG-YhDaqNYErGfEXrbDRIreSq5xSavz-ql5yNuwkRbZYWH8ECntOwKtvr-JQn_SPbhc5FzXTWFuVGHsoLGZtmH2J599PgaDP8NEoqclG1FeJ94plGs71WwZaeuygg5C/s1600/3+sew+edges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTN4pZdh4ebo6wJyG-YhDaqNYErGfEXrbDRIreSq5xSavz-ql5yNuwkRbZYWH8ECntOwKtvr-JQn_SPbhc5FzXTWFuVGHsoLGZtmH2J599PgaDP8NEoqclG1FeJ94plGs71WwZaeuygg5C/s320/3+sew+edges.jpg" width="275" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now it's ready to wear. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzyDWoisymKSC-qYoRPMce2oalrtPWssccuBGZch6MCbppuNTZuEk9x2CipkB-jQ1acgItYIA2-2nQbx158Riv4fbCve_o6idHOrxshK7hFAxjX7inlSn7CESGMoc-IhWdjmGaBgD3ILd/s1600/4+scarf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzyDWoisymKSC-qYoRPMce2oalrtPWssccuBGZch6MCbppuNTZuEk9x2CipkB-jQ1acgItYIA2-2nQbx158Riv4fbCve_o6idHOrxshK7hFAxjX7inlSn7CESGMoc-IhWdjmGaBgD3ILd/s320/4+scarf.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For those who want it to double as a nursing cover, this is how it drapes... </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXRpdzAxzdJYrS9zrEA-T7lzaf4CzIm-JBDq_8KZxG6wRmlBl0NT1WDblRTLEc1P5I2M7v-sbG2tqNH6oCFIXpBxr5fHeJ3ka1_nSUgd7g3RVCn9lQxx1E3BsGvtKcq2uQCKtaXZwBZ0v/s1600/5+infinity+nursing+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXRpdzAxzdJYrS9zrEA-T7lzaf4CzIm-JBDq_8KZxG6wRmlBl0NT1WDblRTLEc1P5I2M7v-sbG2tqNH6oCFIXpBxr5fHeJ3ka1_nSUgd7g3RVCn9lQxx1E3BsGvtKcq2uQCKtaXZwBZ0v/s320/5+infinity+nursing+cover.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If your baby likes to pull the cover, or you just want more coverage, I have one last helpful step... </span>Lay the tube out on your table, right sides together (so you see the ugly side). Measure 12" from your seam. Pin or <a href="http://amzn.to/1SMhqO6" target="_blank">clip</a> and measure from 12" to 16". </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8enRrX58o6VKOTBEEDlbxfAwM5To9HVZBoF7f-d_YRwG3C3sLPN07pzzP95H3mC77RLlcq4BPkYEB7jRF6ssgnqlY8OSF0T86I4dPAO_0YZ_lSKZrfHcE7kFirRLDOfRlNjqY3ifDLsmZ/s1600/7+sew+here.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8enRrX58o6VKOTBEEDlbxfAwM5To9HVZBoF7f-d_YRwG3C3sLPN07pzzP95H3mC77RLlcq4BPkYEB7jRF6ssgnqlY8OSF0T86I4dPAO_0YZ_lSKZrfHcE7kFirRLDOfRlNjqY3ifDLsmZ/s320/7+sew+here.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*Note: go ahead and make sure your head fits comfortably through the 12" hole. If not, scoot it over a bit to make it bigger. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sew the 4 inch seam. This will not interfere with the scarf's functionality. It just gives it added function as a nursing cover. </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoO_LoiouSIOnKoKLdKnrpb4Vf9AKviO3lr9_lMsRe-JTAERLgbXyyeOUCV9Ph6VTCLevxqxzKWqxkGXL9M1K4Dh3Fs1Rwc_aasgeKK2vnhi4wxBj_ORCv6fQ5bOms8Ee1MJyfMMkxlA8/s1600/8+sew+line.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoO_LoiouSIOnKoKLdKnrpb4Vf9AKviO3lr9_lMsRe-JTAERLgbXyyeOUCV9Ph6VTCLevxqxzKWqxkGXL9M1K4Dh3Fs1Rwc_aasgeKK2vnhi4wxBj_ORCv6fQ5bOms8Ee1MJyfMMkxlA8/s320/8+sew+line.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This will make the scarf hang like so...</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6X9tsJaHPAXQco56EeC6NpB7tXOea0DA_aPKwBMUylvjylMVpm9lUCepteUIKSIOkA1hs1HsdtNVyxHAPaDvTEOZCk1X-0PyC2lR_kB8dEC4MYVYnpjvOufd0sRNAJX49obWVUVcV4pay/s1600/9+infinity+nursing+scarf+sew+line.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6X9tsJaHPAXQco56EeC6NpB7tXOea0DA_aPKwBMUylvjylMVpm9lUCepteUIKSIOkA1hs1HsdtNVyxHAPaDvTEOZCk1X-0PyC2lR_kB8dEC4MYVYnpjvOufd0sRNAJX49obWVUVcV4pay/s320/9+infinity+nursing+scarf+sew+line.JPG" width="314" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now when you turn the scarf to nurse, the seam keeps the cover held in place over your other shoulder. This prevents baby from yanking the cover off. </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEr6ZmFgmDYqoflcNqhqyPk5Ou1cZ7JOnR-7CIBsd2DP58NuJRDSDimtjBG0ds4N2_JIR_D4pjNIzSZyupLGCivshX1urdpcRqc7xvZSkA0-jMr26twgINeqM63Y7XDEzZQ7jPpDmiziF/s1600/10+finished+infinity+nursing+scarf.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEr6ZmFgmDYqoflcNqhqyPk5Ou1cZ7JOnR-7CIBsd2DP58NuJRDSDimtjBG0ds4N2_JIR_D4pjNIzSZyupLGCivshX1urdpcRqc7xvZSkA0-jMr26twgINeqM63Y7XDEzZQ7jPpDmiziF/s320/10+finished+infinity+nursing+scarf.JPG" width="312" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now it's a full-coverage nursing cover, and it still doubles as an infinity scarf! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-22218149357090366152016-03-14T07:00:00.000-05:002016-03-14T07:00:07.098-05:00DIY Laundry Sorter Baskets<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We recently changed up our laundry sorting system, and this is what we ended up with... </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOy7iGfXKMCOIyMpTRNHhrDtjLh_5G-jLH5W9KNeXUA6XxEqAV03yI7vu5G_ksqF84_UMHUSBtVO_d7lHQ_IHA6hR1qTAz8vSRTvO9iz0ab6WC7Aiij93djFJrjri2Nb0RFX0SsnLrCRNh/s1600/laundry+sorter+baskets+on+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOy7iGfXKMCOIyMpTRNHhrDtjLh_5G-jLH5W9KNeXUA6XxEqAV03yI7vu5G_ksqF84_UMHUSBtVO_d7lHQ_IHA6hR1qTAz8vSRTvO9iz0ab6WC7Aiij93djFJrjri2Nb0RFX0SsnLrCRNh/s400/laundry+sorter+baskets+on+wall.jpg" width="325" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The baskets were each $1 from Dollar General, and we mounted them with these double hooks from Home Depot which were $3 each...</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAY3Nj4ajwjSN7Qty3T22Ws7ugUtob2wZTM56R8SIFiFHm_LKfFEPAYo_feSro6rd5p2YOCAUJhPDOWGb-lo6UNkMvyVTmOhDfxa3PLLQSSto6os2jXh1x1xRB9LtMfIndtqX2ES9skPk/s1600/double+hook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAY3Nj4ajwjSN7Qty3T22Ws7ugUtob2wZTM56R8SIFiFHm_LKfFEPAYo_feSro6rd5p2YOCAUJhPDOWGb-lo6UNkMvyVTmOhDfxa3PLLQSSto6os2jXh1x1xRB9LtMfIndtqX2ES9skPk/s400/double+hook.jpg" width="328" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So far we've used stacking laundry bins in the laundry room, but I wanted to put something in the kids bathroom in hopes of them using it a little better. They suggested that I buy </span><a href="http://amzn.to/1OT0T6J" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">basketball hoop hampers</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> that hung over their doors, and considering how excited they were to use them we gave that a try. I'd totally recommend them, by the way, if your kids are at least 6-8 years old. The hoops definitely worked in the motivation department (they were LOOKING for clothes they could throw in), but unfortunately only my oldest (age 7) could get his clothes in with out a lot of effort. My 4 year old </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">would throw clothes over and over again then eventually stand on a step stool to get them in or someone else would end up throwing it in for him. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Considering that the basketball hoops weren't so useable for the little ones, (and I have an almost 2 year old who will be using them himself at some point) I returned the hoop hampers and gave it another go. This time I wanted to be sure that the sorter was low enough and easy enough for little people to use, since that is the entire point. The </span><a href="http://amzn.to/1KICFYW" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">four-bin laundry sorters</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> were all too big to fit in the space I was working with, so I consulted Pinterest for alternate ideas and found </span><a href="http://www.sassy4savings.com/diy-laundry-sorter-for-only-4/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">this post</a>. <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I liked the basket idea but think our real hooks are a much safer bet than the self-adhesive hooks she used.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Each child has their own basket. When theirs is full they can easily remove it, carry it to the laundry room, run their load, then bring their clean clothes back in the same basket. Yes, my four-year-old and seven-year-old each do their own laundry. The real trick is keeping dirty clothes off the floor in the mean time. So I pointed out that the baskets practically ARE like a basketball hoop, they just make it easier to score. :) </span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D2150858247289954400%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D5196334265102383259%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D4%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-tpGgP-lQusQ%2FVqqkq0ULGiI%2FAAAAAAAAD5c%2FljksV1boOvQ%2Fs400%2Fdouble%252Bhook.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=bLLaDoje0Mqw&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 189px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 530px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D2150858247289954400%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D5196334265102383259%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D4%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-tpGgP-lQusQ%2FVqqkq0ULGiI%2FAAAAAAAAD5c%2FljksV1boOvQ%2Fs400%2Fdouble%252Bhook.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=bLLaDoje0Mqw&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 189px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 530px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-34893864235075082012016-02-29T07:00:00.001-06:002017-06-15T16:08:40.082-05:00What is My Child's Reading Level?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXV1z8p8LLT4-ILGUGlTt4J6W8YvFjpgnjNYHQ6Kej1O9aHtYGPWFxycVqtYQtqwRwiPD-WYU-dO7exLYIeertPH4L08W7d8dDtM7w0HOMlUR2ItxtAqQM0q-YBDm2diPltCamvr2bKG3/s1600/unnamed.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXV1z8p8LLT4-ILGUGlTt4J6W8YvFjpgnjNYHQ6Kej1O9aHtYGPWFxycVqtYQtqwRwiPD-WYU-dO7exLYIeertPH4L08W7d8dDtM7w0HOMlUR2ItxtAqQM0q-YBDm2diPltCamvr2bKG3/s1600/unnamed.png" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since my oldest son requires a steady stream of books from the library for independent reading, I wondered what his reading level was and how I could use that information to see if the books I'm picking out for him are challenging enough. That seemed like a simple enough task, but it turned out to be a little more complicated than I expected. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">First of all, reading assessment test results can vary... by quite a bit. School's tests are no exception. Your child may test as reading at a 4th grade level locally, a 5th grade level in the next county, and a 3rd grade level in the next state. Test results can also vary from year to year, as standards fluctuate. So I've decided there is no such thing as a "fourth grade reading level." I still wanted to get a ballpark idea, and then ask my librarian what to do with it, so we took some free online reading tests. I'll share the links here in case you're interested...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><b>Free Online Reading Tests</b></span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mindsprinting.com/mindsprinting/dashboard/assessmenttest/freeassessmenttest.aspx" target="_blank">Mind Sprinting Free Assessment Test</a> - </span><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This test is based on international standards, so it's claimed to be more consistent and accurate than school-based tests, which can vary from place to place and year to year. This one turned out to be the most accurate result for us. They offer grade-level assessments in both reading and math. After the test, they try to sell you their curriculum, which I am not advocating. I'm just linking to the free test if you want it.</span></li>
<li><a href="http://a2zhomeschooling.com/all_time_favorites/reading_level_assessment/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Reading Level Assessment Tests</a><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- This page has two different printable, quick reading tests. </span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.nrrf.org/reading-competency-test/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">NRRF Reading Competency Test</a><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- This is for students who have completed grade 2. Part 1 measures phonics competency and part 2 indicates grade level reading ability. </span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.sonlight.com/homeschool/curriculum/placement-tests/quick-reading-assessment/#" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Sonlight Quick Reading Assessment</a><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> - This quick online assessment from Sonlight helps you find your child's reading grade level. It was the most basic test, but it did show some sample pages to read from. </span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I talked to our librarian, who told me that the books in our system will generally have a Lexile number. She showed me a chart that linked Lexile numbers to approximate grade levels, and showed me how to see what a book's Lexile number is when choosing books online through their website. (That's how I roll. I don't browse the shelves, I request the books ahead of time and they put them on a request shelf for us to stop by and pick up.) I looked up the Lexile number for a few of his recent books, then chose a couple more books at a higher level to try out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our librarian warned not to be too restrictive on reading levels, since any reading level (Lexile included) is nothing more than an approximate estimate. She told me about a young reader who was required to read only "grade level" books for school, though she actually read at a much higher level. She ended up very frustrated to say the least. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><b>Read-Aloud Test</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif; font-size: 15px;">How ever you find your child's reading level estimate, the only real confirmation is to have the child read aloud to you. If you're testing levels, then try one book at his suggested level and one above/below. (Your librarian can help you find books by level!) After listening to him read aloud to you for 20 minutes you'll be able to tell which level is appropriate. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="color: #111111;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #111111;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;">Ruth Beechick describes a more official Read-Aloud test in her book</span> <span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1m2VGyB" target="_blank">The Three R's</a></i></span><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;">, which determines your child's independent reading level (what he can read to himself), instructional reading level (what you can use to teach him with), and frustration level (too hard to even use for instruction). Count off 100 words for the child to read to you. If he's unable to read more than 5 words, that book is on his frustration level. If he misses 3-5 words, the book may be on his instruction level. If he misses 2 or less words, the book is on his independent reading level. (Note that Beechick recommends not to concern yourself with testing until at least grade three.) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="color: #111111; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;">Here is her chart to reference: <i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(page 33)</span></i></span><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IDl6wUPKi2NH-PsHqlTwAAxHbwCZjxWlmSGuMND4WMSkwtX3uPj0AU0pJZp7xCN_RZ18huv9ALfqqgjFvEAxUKjYPsUnnReGtHVpC4OP2ymIY9MhuiYsCXkcjQUm3V6TI7ruoSrffrnP/s1600/reading+level.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #ff32a9; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" class="pinme" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IDl6wUPKi2NH-PsHqlTwAAxHbwCZjxWlmSGuMND4WMSkwtX3uPj0AU0pJZp7xCN_RZ18huv9ALfqqgjFvEAxUKjYPsUnnReGtHVpC4OP2ymIY9MhuiYsCXkcjQUm3V6TI7ruoSrffrnP/s1600/reading+level.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif;"><br /></span></span><b style="color: #111111;">Self-Evaluation</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #111111; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #340035; line-height: normal;">Your child can even learn to evaluate books himself. Assuming that the book pages have 100-200 words per page on them, he can read a page and count how many words he runs into that he doesn't know. If he runs out of fingers, the book is harder than his current level. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #111111; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What Now? </span></b></div>
<div style="color: #111111; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: normal;">I don't intend to over-analyze the level of every book my kids read. But knowing how to use my local library's Lexile rating at least gives me a clue as to how difficult books are when I'm picking them online rather than in person. My best advice is to listen to your kids read aloud to know if a book is right for them, and talk to your librarian if you need help beyond that. <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/p/reading-resources.html" target="_blank">Happy reading</a>!</span><br />
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif; line-height: normal;"><br /></span>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #330033; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">*** Go back to my </span><a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/p/reading-resources.html" style="color: #ff32a9; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none;">Reading Resources</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #330033; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> page! ***</span></div>
<span style="color: #340035; font-family: "verdana" , serif; line-height: normal;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; text-align: center;">
--------------------------------------</div>
</div>
</div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-78055460599968410372016-02-15T07:00:00.000-06:002016-07-13T16:49:34.740-05:00Our New Workboxes Made With 12x12 Sterilite Drawers<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After having <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2014/10/work-it-work-boxes.html" target="_blank">an adorable workbox system</a> for Kindergarten and First Grade, this year I changed it up a bit. The drawers weren't quite big enough to hold all of our stuff, and I've tweaked how we use them as well. Now we use Sterilite drawers, which I can stack for multiple kids. Here they are:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUk87-_kpa-vYSrObGHG56CVndGCp5xl2Nkq6-Fi1BrT6qNZwj_DIEHXQ1VIukQdukcsUcI-CEYqNNZX-pUpi_rE0-35R320I_n8LLS050dyqYVOssGNouOHVACmuXlbFZxaMtFSzsEyAZ/s1600/workboxes+cute+labeled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUk87-_kpa-vYSrObGHG56CVndGCp5xl2Nkq6-Fi1BrT6qNZwj_DIEHXQ1VIukQdukcsUcI-CEYqNNZX-pUpi_rE0-35R320I_n8LLS050dyqYVOssGNouOHVACmuXlbFZxaMtFSzsEyAZ/s640/workboxes+cute+labeled.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "\22 verdana\22 " , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "\22 verdana\22 " , sans-serif;">This is how they looked until their recent contact paper facelift....</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguK6krtbYVruWFfNOyHR1aJhByEeq1iFk00GjKdAZKK66BPS5XVEhGh9BiNbdm3r0I7XZEQybnGWrpgyboQqf7PoWoYSsqjVlefkyXThfGS1gz75YPVgpMNzzseMLHHEFE_T85wFdqU7bs/s1600/sterilite+drawer+workboxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguK6krtbYVruWFfNOyHR1aJhByEeq1iFk00GjKdAZKK66BPS5XVEhGh9BiNbdm3r0I7XZEQybnGWrpgyboQqf7PoWoYSsqjVlefkyXThfGS1gz75YPVgpMNzzseMLHHEFE_T85wFdqU7bs/s640/sterilite+drawer+workboxes.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As much as I loved how cute our old ones were... </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFhE4Uh2Rj_NQPOHmzSwV2q3zrX0SDSZQL3Ze2Z0D39pZXqXi8iUk8Xs4q4DtMqvv7JD3kieOklNTntYWHjlaBt2k-Yz2DNzri5CYmGduL6YwQZ4loZVy3R1z5VubMvpDoz2xN7jkRgdL/s1600/workboxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFhE4Uh2Rj_NQPOHmzSwV2q3zrX0SDSZQL3Ze2Z0D39pZXqXi8iUk8Xs4q4DtMqvv7JD3kieOklNTntYWHjlaBt2k-Yz2DNzri5CYmGduL6YwQZ4loZVy3R1z5VubMvpDoz2xN7jkRgdL/s320/workboxes.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the Sterilite drawers</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> are a better fit for us right now, and here's why... </span></div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The drawers are bigger (12x12), so they hold our books and notebooks better. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we started using heavier books they weren't fitting well in the colorful drawers and they'd sometimes make the drawers fall off the tracks. The Sterilite drawers stay in place.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can stack them as high as I want, customizing the number of drawers we're using instead of requiring multiple rolling carts when I want another drawer. This also requires the smallest amount of floorspace in our already full room.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can customize these drawers easily when I'm home schooling four kids. The majority of the drawers will be shared for family subjects (History, Geography, Science, Literature and Enrichment), with just a couple individual subjects (Language Arts & Math) and right now a drawer or two for baby (with puzzles or toys). </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are </span><a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/08/Workbox-System.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">several ways to use workboxes</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, but what we're currently doing is keeping everything for one subject in that subject's drawer so it's easy to grab it and go. This means I'm not loading the drawers nightly with tomorrow's work, they're just always ready. Here's a peek inside a few drawers... </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">History...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nuVppMRnufIijS0Itxa7c9Mz33xYxQO3ZIXD_WjAI_7fK_xBUaT5v5_wJ6urJtYHNZ3II0ZFeO53J0CondDXjkDfMCWJIidWvzcbKz1dsq5BgPbOgP-oN1rndZPN9tfogwBUSAAVjMll/s1600/history+workbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nuVppMRnufIijS0Itxa7c9Mz33xYxQO3ZIXD_WjAI_7fK_xBUaT5v5_wJ6urJtYHNZ3II0ZFeO53J0CondDXjkDfMCWJIidWvzcbKz1dsq5BgPbOgP-oN1rndZPN9tfogwBUSAAVjMll/s320/history+workbox.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bible...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9gK_y-gnm9k_ckyS1zWtJoVcHS7Y6FJ4CQFlDQbOsVs4J0O9QcH-RkNH4d7rnzkyVW_qseswValv87kUI20Uc9Fm9S6pUD-9Qu4jc3R8azkif5AckfrSbY0RYxvltUXeSIc7yyLumOMI/s1600/bible+workbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9gK_y-gnm9k_ckyS1zWtJoVcHS7Y6FJ4CQFlDQbOsVs4J0O9QcH-RkNH4d7rnzkyVW_qseswValv87kUI20Uc9Fm9S6pUD-9Qu4jc3R8azkif5AckfrSbY0RYxvltUXeSIc7yyLumOMI/s320/bible+workbox.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Math... </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQ9osFnC39TYgXBClw3pmlipo7xQGH5W2qIhpEGvF4MSilCivPpJlBkYwqMBY-KzFYzTxYrAUR8kk9vzhZqWKEyDnBunCW4_7gI0L0f7FLVZ2jeii5_Tp6ywQg_uGknKZFqqKLTM5lgXW/s1600/math+workbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQ9osFnC39TYgXBClw3pmlipo7xQGH5W2qIhpEGvF4MSilCivPpJlBkYwqMBY-KzFYzTxYrAUR8kk9vzhZqWKEyDnBunCW4_7gI0L0f7FLVZ2jeii5_Tp6ywQg_uGknKZFqqKLTM5lgXW/s320/math+workbox.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nature Study...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20kb5-RRIs1GGRRuPTfxXFPEfsdfKkw8whvM4M5Z5jtVNRb9ZeYCYZwJKKtUPed1_c3e425M82RWwtLv3Szq_kf5sIkgRP9eU-lVlA0RvskPe0sLOeTkZ83XZAxtD2uBpZQ5nTuE1Hmcb/s1600/nature+study+workbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20kb5-RRIs1GGRRuPTfxXFPEfsdfKkw8whvM4M5Z5jtVNRb9ZeYCYZwJKKtUPed1_c3e425M82RWwtLv3Szq_kf5sIkgRP9eU-lVlA0RvskPe0sLOeTkZ83XZAxtD2uBpZQ5nTuE1Hmcb/s320/nature+study+workbox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You get the idea. I also have drawers for Language & Writing, our timeline & history lap booking supplies, Geography, Literature, and Enrichment (picture study, music study, drawing, etc.). The drawer labeled "Mom" is where they can turn in assignments and where I keep my planner. Also near the top (and way out of the toddler's reach) is the media drawer for the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">iPad, iPod, CD player (for listening to library books' audio CD's) and chords and chargers... </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKUsqfP8INdoLUc43chot6e1loaQLkEpYnWmjVLQlKv0XjHMW5hTL0D7bBkw9C0GH3b_GOZJ5MBkRxLGA_9Ykwwb5T5ZQedZC2a4Uem7koz4WMwC-Gq2agU83OdYHScZcQZsHyzfnvG7O/s1600/media+workbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKUsqfP8INdoLUc43chot6e1loaQLkEpYnWmjVLQlKv0XjHMW5hTL0D7bBkw9C0GH3b_GOZJ5MBkRxLGA_9Ykwwb5T5ZQedZC2a4Uem7koz4WMwC-Gq2agU83OdYHScZcQZsHyzfnvG7O/s320/media+workbox.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My Pre-Schooler has two drawers. Here is one... </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoihuCa9LeGCMpUd1QN1THWHdLP1y75oxyM7gHOHYUTL7_25pmW0WeDGnCDjHin859RFRNLM9xoZ1ocSN3oMzkzN2EZORmBsqy2RFdyNCIOMm1UQYtgdgo6u08h8ZboW1YxESPGmVpv16I/s1600/preschool+workbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoihuCa9LeGCMpUd1QN1THWHdLP1y75oxyM7gHOHYUTL7_25pmW0WeDGnCDjHin859RFRNLM9xoZ1ocSN3oMzkzN2EZORmBsqy2RFdyNCIOMm1UQYtgdgo6u08h8ZboW1YxESPGmVpv16I/s320/preschool+workbox.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And because he likes to open the drawers, I made one for my toddler to get into.. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVRCzJVNnhwt7hgxmM03QDZXxrbHwXG_ELqHxOAwqGVaZZuYtnhV4Zc8vVMJfZQwibOzBvTw1uoVDF9rhBsB_y7VW60rxeFHvWnlAIu38V1eGTuFPf1ZET3wfY_wvhn5Yfkq3NFcOgnVq/s1600/IMG_8367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVRCzJVNnhwt7hgxmM03QDZXxrbHwXG_ELqHxOAwqGVaZZuYtnhV4Zc8vVMJfZQwibOzBvTw1uoVDF9rhBsB_y7VW60rxeFHvWnlAIu38V1eGTuFPf1ZET3wfY_wvhn5Yfkq3NFcOgnVq/s320/IMG_8367.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That's our system in a nutshell! It's been really helpful to have our supplies organized this way because I'm not going to three different places to pull a book, grab a magnifying glass, or gather our lap booking pieces. I can say "Go get your ______" and they know right where to find it. The supplies I keep elsewhere include our <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2014/04/how-to-organize-right-start-math.html" target="_blank">Right Start Math Manipulatives</a>, and the books we aren't currently reading for history and literature. That's it. Everything else stays in the workboxes.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-56629841818306007122016-02-01T10:53:00.000-06:002016-02-01T10:53:00.791-06:00Never Ever Ever Bind Anything at Staples!!!!!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I managed to complete the most wonderful, annoying project this month! It's wonderful because I love it, it was annoying because "professionals" were involved who botched it up so it was a headache to get it finished properly.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I sorted and organized all of our keepsake school papers so I could bind them into books, one book per school year per kid. Nice idea right? Well, it would have been if Staples wasn't involved. I prefer to </span><a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2014/08/bind-it-up-baby.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">do my own binding with the Pro-Click</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, but unfortunately spines are only available up to 5/8" (110 page capacity). I needed about a 2" spine, so I had to have Staples do it for me. Sadly for me they did exactly what I feared, which was to botch my order! They mis-cut pages, had a few of them hanging outside the spine and even left a page out of the middle of my book! Check out their "professional" binding job...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8olp2BNUT28AM5ly7Gdxswc7YRG5evbqx19CpHbG6W88ONDZSfEWUY_osPv53YN-BNt693x8BoMbl3qCKGTTgUnBPEk0lcNhTpA-2jvWLvLnRVN-0GePtSHY0ubeGaYE7dlxdNerneD9_/s1600/IMG_8192+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8olp2BNUT28AM5ly7Gdxswc7YRG5evbqx19CpHbG6W88ONDZSfEWUY_osPv53YN-BNt693x8BoMbl3qCKGTTgUnBPEk0lcNhTpA-2jvWLvLnRVN-0GePtSHY0ubeGaYE7dlxdNerneD9_/s320/IMG_8192+copy.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(the pages aren't even IN the binding!)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHWoRVl4c74eG_u5T7exS_b00cpmn1KW7F9VHXF3SEtJzYwoHJ7ETXbURai33oYJpRVs9rMb1MKUycCMkkJKDj_NyGz3nw4XgGpXj51W7zswq-MZBXjWo7JjXM0AJYLNyyW-cEJzkzFvf/s1600/IMG_8191+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHWoRVl4c74eG_u5T7exS_b00cpmn1KW7F9VHXF3SEtJzYwoHJ7ETXbURai33oYJpRVs9rMb1MKUycCMkkJKDj_NyGz3nw4XgGpXj51W7zswq-MZBXjWo7JjXM0AJYLNyyW-cEJzkzFvf/s320/IMG_8191+copy.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They also used spines that were entirely too small...</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCKO55C3Km5kG1c7YfGTbA_7dXM8CwCYhXehbbLLJSJlsZv1jLg-tsRbGm8DeWA9j-DfFv5LPau76_EkSgeaK22p2-B_HdaN4ZxmCjLgbQGN5FuHpx9kNGhWsuCn_BQTkat6ucqSGvXQ5/s1600/IMG_8193+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCKO55C3Km5kG1c7YfGTbA_7dXM8CwCYhXehbbLLJSJlsZv1jLg-tsRbGm8DeWA9j-DfFv5LPau76_EkSgeaK22p2-B_HdaN4ZxmCjLgbQGN5FuHpx9kNGhWsuCn_BQTkat6ucqSGvXQ5/s320/IMG_8193+copy.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I mean..... really? </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihbeoKsjBzp1BFjFotRUrKOq6Se3aKWrMa1cCalPk_Q8ueal4z99QKGAaKySmfXT09JSeWVl7bP67rwTfbyqHXgzmLZ23K7I1Ex3UwNoZUxi5AJTl_o8Uz1n38N_a602gZJxOOoIjDHwx/s1600/IMG_8187+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihbeoKsjBzp1BFjFotRUrKOq6Se3aKWrMa1cCalPk_Q8ueal4z99QKGAaKySmfXT09JSeWVl7bP67rwTfbyqHXgzmLZ23K7I1Ex3UwNoZUxi5AJTl_o8Uz1n38N_a602gZJxOOoIjDHwx/s320/IMG_8187+copy.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So the covers were under stress and ripping off the day I brought them home.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPo8y_Kwclq6edEIYOqtjNErQgqB5XFuYWKkKMKMASjmd3siz-EjsRA5hcsOT478WNhNLr3dk1p4_28ltnWc9CHgriYiKRpg7_EdtHi6DeM__RQuV1qlaNR-K_azaI-_2zQeK-E-3m5-R/s1600/IMG_8189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPo8y_Kwclq6edEIYOqtjNErQgqB5XFuYWKkKMKMASjmd3siz-EjsRA5hcsOT478WNhNLr3dk1p4_28ltnWc9CHgriYiKRpg7_EdtHi6DeM__RQuV1qlaNR-K_azaI-_2zQeK-E-3m5-R/s320/IMG_8189.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">T</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">he best part of all was when the girl who handed me my order knew they'd messed it up but told me flat out that they wouldn't fix it, and still charged me full price. She sent me home with one larger spiral and told me I could re-bind the last book myself at home by hand-twirling the spiral through the holes. (Although she assured me this was no big deal, she refused to do it herself. Never mind that I'd paid the store to do it.) She also told me that I'd have to re-bind the book that they left a page out of if I wanted it put back in. So basically I was instructed to re-bind two out of the four books that I had paid them to bind. And t</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">he page they left out of the middle of my book was nearly overlooked and not even returned to me. Not cool, Staples. Not cool. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I paid them $20 for their fine work and took my books home. Why did I not throw a fit or demand a refund or talk to a manager? Well, frankly I was afraid to let them have possession of my books for a moment longer. Who knows what they'd mess up worse trying to fix them, or if they'd lose another page. At this point I thought the books were at least salvageable for me to fix at home, so that was the plan.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was only after taking them home that I discovered the mis-cut pages. At that point I knew I'd have to deal with the store further since the only "fix" was to trim the mis-cut pages (making them too narrow) and bringing them back to the store to be re-cut with new holes so they could be re-bound. Great. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At this point the store manager was involved, who recognized the abysmal binding job for what it was and refunded my entire order. He had the head of the binding department personally fix my order.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Unfortunately even after she fixed it, I was sent home with one spine looking like my dog got ahold of it... </span></div>
<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7TaD7issKDRydK8hVPiPXQp6OePAWQasSjuNRY_O_ME0Dn4QM5N0_cvg88aE5e5Dtu-ULQEiwKk1cqO2czoP9PLxVWAhUSlLlxFoIE9MGtrGlaJlhadYh-KeAB4u5n022ashGoBv1B95/s640/blogger-image--129360183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7TaD7issKDRydK8hVPiPXQp6OePAWQasSjuNRY_O_ME0Dn4QM5N0_cvg88aE5e5Dtu-ULQEiwKk1cqO2czoP9PLxVWAhUSlLlxFoIE9MGtrGlaJlhadYh-KeAB4u5n022ashGoBv1B95/s400/blogger-image--129360183.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The girl knew that the spine looked wonky, but she assured me it was "functional." (She would have replaced it but she couldn't because this was the last large spiral they had on hand.) She also unknowingly missed a page inside the binding of one book so I still ended up having to remove a spine at home and re-bind it by hand to fix it. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The books are at least bound with appropriately sized spirals now so I can actually turn the pages without the risk of tearing them. I might be a borderline-perfectionist so the wacky-looking spine pictured above definitely bothers me but it is what it is. It was never about the $20 because the pages inside these books have sentimental value. I just wanted the job done right. And the moral of this story is that if you want something done right, you've GOT to do it yourself. </div>
</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've mentioned before that <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2014/08/bind-it-up-baby.html" target="_blank">I love my Pro-Click binding machine</a> since it allows me to do my own binding at home, and their spines even "unzip," allowing me to add a forgotten page in the middle of a book if I need to. They just don't make compatible spines for larger binding projects like this one. I did contact Pro-Click and leave a customer request for bigger spines (it never hurts to ask). But until they do so I'm trying to find the best option for using non-Pro-Click spines with my Pro-Click so I can bind large projects like this myself at home. If I have success, I'll let you know. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the mean time, only take your precious binding projects to a professional at your own risk! :) </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-65924003058922589842016-01-18T12:43:00.000-06:002016-07-17T16:57:52.557-05:00Our Plan for Third Grade + Kindergarten<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We've been working to finish this school year in March, so we can have a nice break when baby #4 comes the beginning of April. So far we're on track. I've also been working on getting my plan and supplies ready for next school year </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">so I can just pick it up and go with it next summer/fall. So, even though it's 7-9 months early, here's my plan for next school year! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPthHmKmFXOxl9llyFjP79sqM9yG1Cpkx-Pyy1v3WL4V_CjhSfbS2eje8eryB-vQTj3mdCWYWu89SC5cDVH8SRgeKd0BEMWKtRIaYHt4f8WWCsWa-f7a1HunDTjeXnUR6kz0JmIgEv26bm/s1600/HS+Plan_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPthHmKmFXOxl9llyFjP79sqM9yG1Cpkx-Pyy1v3WL4V_CjhSfbS2eje8eryB-vQTj3mdCWYWu89SC5cDVH8SRgeKd0BEMWKtRIaYHt4f8WWCsWa-f7a1HunDTjeXnUR6kz0JmIgEv26bm/s400/HS+Plan_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Family Study...</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Bible Reading:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We'll stay on pace with their bible class lessons, which is usually reading about a chapter a day. My third grader is also <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/03/stick-figuring-through-bible.html" target="_blank">stick figuring through the bible</a> to make his first bible timeline as we go. My kindergartener will begin his timeline when we cycle back to Genesis again.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>For My Third Grader...</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Language Arts: </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In addition to copywork and <a href="http://www.tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/08/better-than-worksheets-quizzes-tests.html" target="_blank">narration</a> in other subjects, we'll be starting Simply Charlotte Mason's </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://simplycharlottemason.com/store/using-language-well/" target="_blank">Using Language Well</a></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://simplycharlottemason.com/store/spelling-wisdom/" target="_blank">Spelling Wisdom</a></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. These two books go together for teaching language arts skills through great literature. For handwriting he will </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">continue using </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.zeezok.com/Presidential-Penmanship_c_13.html" target="_blank">Presidential Penmanship</a>, </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">which utilizes quotes from our presidents and founding fathers. This year also includes the preamble to the constitution. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>History:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We'll be studying the early church and middle ages using </span><a href="http://www.themysteryofhistory.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Mystery of History, Volume 2</a>, <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">supplemented with <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/06/living-books-by-level-for-mystery-of_30.html" target="_blank">living books from this list</a>, some of which I'm buying and the rest we'll borrow from the library.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For hands-on history we'll do lap booking using the Bright Ideas Press </span><a href="https://www.brightideaspress.com/shop/mystery-of-history-vol2-folderbook/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">folder books</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (which we used and liked for volume 1), the </span><a href="https://www.brightideaspress.com/shop/mystery-of-history-vol2-cookbook/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">cookbook</a>, <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1J5XRwL" target="_blank">Draw & Write Through History: Vikings, Middle Ages & the </a></i></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1J5XRwL" target="_blank">Renaissance</a>. </i>I'd also like to get some sort of castle building set for them for Christmas. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Math:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He'll be doing <a href="http://www.teachingtextbooks.com/" target="_blank">Teaching Textbooks</a>, which is a computer-based math program, supplemented with <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/07/life-of-fred-say-what.html" target="_blank">Life of Fred</a>. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Literature:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We're using the book recommendations from <a href="https://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/curriculum-guide/literature/" target="_blank">Simply Charlotte Mason, Book Group 3</a> for Younger Students. They include:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1OTJbRP" target="_blank">Little Lord Fauntleroy </a></i>by Frances Hodgson Burnett</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1OTJxaZ" target="_blank">The Wind in the Willows</a></i> by Kenneth Grahame</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1Q3jdu8" target="_blank"><i>Heidi</i> </a>by Johanna Spyri</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1Q3jhdp" target="_blank"><i>The Secret Garden</i> </a>by Frances Hodgson Burnett</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1OTJGeo" target="_blank"><i>The Princess and the Goblin</i> </a>by George MacDonald</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1OTJJXS" target="_blank">At the Back of the North Wind</a></i> by George MacDonald</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1Q3jo8G" target="_blank">The Railway Children </a></i>by E. Nesbit</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Reading:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We read aloud from living books every day. This includes history, science and literature. He also has an independent reading time, usually using library books which vary between his current nature study topic or historical fiction or leisure reading. I might also use the third grade </span><a href="http://www.pathwayreaders.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Pathway Readers</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> with him, or let him use them for independent reading since he likes them so much. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Enrichment:</b> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We're doing Nature Study as our main science for the year, which also encompasses art, classification and research skills. He also takes piano lessons from <a href="https://www.hoffmanacademy.com/" target="_blank">Hoffman Academy</a> (which I highly recommend, by the way). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i style="color: #444444; font-size: 15px;">Update: I added in some independent work: <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2016/05/draw-with-your-kids.html" target="_blank">Art for Kids Hub</a> for drawing lessons, <a href="https://allinonehomeschool.com/pehealth-odds/" target="_blank">EP Health</a>, and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3c6tfr" target="_blank">Typing</a>. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>For My Kindergartener...</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Discovery Letter Units: </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I sort of wrote <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2014/05/we-finished-kindergarten.html#more" target="_blank">my own Kindergarten curriculum</a>, but it's based on the <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2013/08/s-is-for-sun.html" target="_blank">letter unit themes</a> in My Father's World Kindergarten. It encompasses science, social studies, art, and some supplemental math and phonics. We study a new theme for each unit, <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/04/read-aloud.html" target="_blank">read a L-O-T of books</a> about it and do hands-on activities and experiments. I'll tack on a couple higher-level library books for big brother in the each theme for his nature study. </span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="circle">
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Math: </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We'll be using <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2014/03/right-start-math-review.html" target="_blank">Right Start Math</a>, Level A. He's actually started it casually already and does well with it. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Reading: </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'll probably stick with <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/04/learning-to-read-what-worked-for-us.html" target="_blank">what worked last time around teaching big brother to read</a>. That is mainly </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Learning to Read with <a href="http://amzn.to/1n493QA" target="_blank">Bob Books</a> with introductory phonics, then graduating to easy readers from the library. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-77798588513246759942016-01-10T16:05:00.001-06:002016-07-14T18:47:58.362-05:00Pre-School and Kindergarten: Too Much Too Soon<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">School has changed a lot since we were kids. The early years have been transformed from a time of hands-on discovery to overly academic pursuits, and children have paid the price for it. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">According to the study "<a href="http://curry.virginia.edu/uploads/resourceLibrary/20_Bassok_Is_Kindergarten_The_New_First_Grade.pdf" target="_blank">Is Kindergarten the New First Grade</a>?" kindergarteners spend considerably more time with formal instruction, academics and testing than they used to. This has taken the place of art, music, science, and child-directed activities. Even though you can read an abundance of studies referencing<a href="http://www.waldorfresearchinstitute.org/pdf/BAPlayAlmon.pdf" target="_blank"> the vital role of "play"</a> in early childhood development and education, modern classrooms no longer give it the time of day. Children are too busy with workbooks and test prep to mess with such things. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfnOavggjAwqOzaA8-vnLRZPrVzM_Sm6Q2ndE0lcJJ1WXNDxy1UWiTLBjfApBgZ1G2s7QKC9IViXem_I1L-iU42L_t6sVJIbM8lDozVrGMyL4hu-N1IvbkCFd16naa4kpcPO32goBuZFy/s1600/th-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfnOavggjAwqOzaA8-vnLRZPrVzM_Sm6Q2ndE0lcJJ1WXNDxy1UWiTLBjfApBgZ1G2s7QKC9IViXem_I1L-iU42L_t6sVJIbM8lDozVrGMyL4hu-N1IvbkCFd16naa4kpcPO32goBuZFy/s400/th-3.jpeg" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The problem doesn't start in kindergarten. I recently read the article "<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/01/the-new-preschool-is-crushing-kids/419139/" target="_blank">The New Preschool is Crushing Kids</a>." </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For all the academics and pre-academics we're forcing on children at younger and younger ages, many teachers agree that children are "less inquisitive and less engaged than children of earlier generations." And for all this extra school work they're doing, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"young children are gaining fewer skills, not more." In fact, <b>by second grade, children who attended preschool perform "worse on tests measuring literacy, language, and math skills" than children who didn't attend preschool</b>. </span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The increased academic pressure on children at such young ages has caused to advocate for delaying school altogether. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There's a movement of parents and educators who push to keep children home longer than age five, and wait to put them in kindergarten until the maximum age of six.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Most of our school-going friends have done this, making them part of the now one in every five families who choose to do so.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Luckily our boys didn't go to an institutionalized setting at the age of 4, 5, or even 6 because we homeschool. We start them in kindergarten at age 5, because they're more than ready for it at that age. But when I say kindergarten I don't mean hours of formal instruction, worksheets, workbooks and test preparation. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our kindergarten days include: </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">reading <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2016/06/tracys-treasury-of-picture-books-for.html" target="_blank">a great variety of books</a> aloud together</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">creativity and <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2016/05/draw-with-your-kids.html" target="_blank">art</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">hands-on science discovery </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">character building lessons </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">imaginative play</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/05/outdoor-learning.html" target="_blank">outdoor play and exploration</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">short, hands-on <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2014/03/right-start-math-review.html" target="_blank">Right Start Math</a> lessons</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">short, individually paced phonics instruction</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As far as getting our kids "ready for kindergarten," <a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2010/09/pre-schooling.html" target="_blank">our preschool days</a> are pretty relaxed. The most important goal I have for their pre-school years is to </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">to </span><a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2009/04/read-aloud.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">establish a love of reading</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. As long as that happens, the rest will fall into place. Of course we play some games that build their fine and gross motor skills too. We fly kites and do puzzles and enjoy our time together. So much of what is missed when children are sent to "school" at the age of 2,3,4, or 5 is quality interaction with their family. Playing together, cooking, exploring outside, and just talking to Mom is replaced with a classroom setting with one adult to every 10 or more children. "One major study of 700 preschool classrooms in 11 states found that only 15% showed evidence of effective interactions between teacher and child. Fifteen percent."<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/01/the-new-preschool-is-crushing-kids/419139/" target="_blank">source</a>></i></span> It's pretty hard to beat the home environment, but today only one out of every four 4-year-olds is found there. The rest have non-family care in a variety of institutionalized settings. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I know it's not an option for every family, but I keep finding more reasons why </span><a href="http://www.tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/12/why-homeschooling-rocks-for-our-family.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">home schooling rocks</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I love that our boys' early years include plenty of active exploration and real life learning instead of too much desk work, homework and testing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For more info, check these out:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.waldorfresearchinstitute.org/pdf/BAPlayAlmon.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Vital Role of Play in Childhood Education</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://store.msuextension.org/publications/HomeHealthandFamily/MT201003HR.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Importance of Play in Early Childhood Development</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/earlychildhood/power.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">The Power of Play</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bluemangollc.com/the-unconventional-guide-to-improving-handwriting-skills-part-i/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">The Unconventional Guide to Improving Handwriting: Put Down the Pencil and Get Outside</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><a href="http://curry.virginia.edu/uploads/resourceLibrary/20_Bassok_Is_Kindergarten_The_New_First_Grade.pdf" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Is Kindergarten the New First Grade?</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/01/the-new-preschool-is-crushing-kids/419139/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">The New Pre-School is Crushing Kids</a> </li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2010/09/early-academics.html" target="_blank">More Thoughts to Consider Before Launching into Early Academics </a></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D2150858247289954400%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dsidebar&media=https%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-yrZpRUQ3syg%2FVntvXY3tQ2I%2FAAAAAAAAD3Y%2FhrpgS-AD0s4%2Fs400%2Fth-3.jpeg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=bLLaDoje0Mqw&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 379px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 246px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D2150858247289954400%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dsidebar&media=https%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-yrZpRUQ3syg%2FVntvXY3tQ2I%2FAAAAAAAAD3Y%2FhrpgS-AD0s4%2Fs400%2Fth-3.jpeg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=bLLaDoje0Mqw&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 379px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 246px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-76320928572856875742016-01-03T18:11:00.002-06:002017-06-15T16:23:47.016-05:00Tracy's Treasury of Sturdy Books for Babies & Toddlers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO49j7YagXLWk66E0TLTN-Vo_qfFVI4CsX6SfD03_KxiH07DL0HlcMIRmRDtMor6KyV4kZu8y7AhWqF-X4yk8vYdudJWaFOtgwyCQ6nXgYx_tIVqX5KiV-3IOpEoQ7bqXvaEsP-dN7Eiwj/s1600/readingboardbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO49j7YagXLWk66E0TLTN-Vo_qfFVI4CsX6SfD03_KxiH07DL0HlcMIRmRDtMor6KyV4kZu8y7AhWqF-X4yk8vYdudJWaFOtgwyCQ6nXgYx_tIVqX5KiV-3IOpEoQ7bqXvaEsP-dN7Eiwj/s320/readingboardbook.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today I'm sharing a book list that I've thought about posting for the last few years. It's been tested in our home and only the best-of-the best remain! Whether you're building your own family library or gift giving, these are our tried-and-true, absolute favorite book choices for the littlest readers. (Remember to grab a couple for baby shower gifts!) They all fit the following criteria:</span></div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They're sturdy (no paper pages) to better stand up to the rough handling from the littlest hands.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They're enjoyable. (That's important!) Some children's books are awkward to read or are... well... annoying. Those books don't stay on our shelf! If I'm going to read it 100 times, it's got to be enjoyable. Also, I'm pretty p</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">icky about quality children's books, and these make the cut. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They've been absolutely loved by our four babies. </span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Baby's First Books</b></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Peek-A-Who-Nina-Laden/dp/0811826023/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0X4ACN5QBKTPCE0ED9C3" target="_blank">Peek-a-Who?</a> </i>by Nina Laden - This book was literally loved to pieces by our babies! I have pictures of them reading it to themselves, cracking up. It has only one or two words per page, which is perfect for a first book so that Baby can keep turning pages quickly. We now have two copies of this book, and have purchased <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2sEqTQq" target="_blank">Grow Up!</a> </i>and <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2sEHhQZ" target="_blank">Who Loves Baby?</a> </i>by the same author. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1R9A1CX" target="_blank"><i>Baby Animals Black & White</i></a> by Phillis Limbacher Tildes - This is a wordless picture book that's perfect for newborns. Doctors say that babies don't develop color vision until about five months old, so the crisp black and white images in this book are ideal for the tiniest babies to focus on. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Touch and Feel Books</b></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1R9zOjb" target="_blank"><i>Who Do You Love?</i></a> by Margaret Wang - This is such a sweet, adorable book!! Unlike some touch and feel books, this one's "feel" spots are very large. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1R9zSzz" target="_blank"><i>Good Morning, Good Night</i></a> by Teresa Imperato - This is one of our top bedtime books. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1R9zzVq" target="_blank">Are You Ticklish</a>?</i> by Sam McKindry - This book and the previous two books are all adorably illustrated by the Melanie Mitchell. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1R9zbGl" target="_blank"><i>Hide and Seek Baby</i></a> by Fiona Watt - Find baby's toes, nose, etc. in this cute touch and feel book. It's part of a <a href="http://amzn.to/1R9z9y4" target="_blank">Snuggletime Book Series</a>. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Finger Puppet Books</b></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1SueofN" target="_blank"><i>Little Ladybug</i></a> - All three of our babies absolutely loved this finger puppet book! I saw when linking to it that there's an entire series with lots more animal finger puppet books in it that I'll have to check out for baby #4!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's the rest of the <a href="http://amzn.to/1SueiVu" target="_blank">adorable finger puppet board books in this series</a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Fun Board Books </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1SudQX9" target="_blank">Peek-a-Boo, I See Who?</a> </i>by Stephen Elkins - We love this cute book which is baby's first gentle introduction to bible characters. After hearing their description, baby peeks under a flap to see who the character is. I have the large hardcover, which has cardboard pages, but it's also available in a <a href="http://amzn.to/1R9yw7Z" target="_blank">board book</a>. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1R9y8pP" target="_blank"><i>Sometimes I Like to Curl Up In a Ball</i></a> by Vicki Churchill - Our kids had great fun acting this book out as I read it. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1SueQe7" target="_blank"><i>Ten Friendly Fireflies</i></a> by Roseanne Thong - Count up to ten with this book of fireflies that light up! I'm surprised that we haven't worn the lights out yet. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1R9AdSQ" target="_blank"><i>Ten Little Ladybugs</i></a> by Melanie Gerth - Count down from ten as the ladybugs disappear one by one. The ladybugs are 3D for little fingers to touch. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Silly Board Books</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1Sudsbc" target="_blank"><i>There's a Wocket in my Pocket</i></a> and <a href="http://amzn.to/1Sudq3g" target="_blank"><i>I'll Teach My Dog a Lot of Words </i></a>by Dr. Seuss - These are both fun rhyming Dr. Seuss books. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1R9xOr7" target="_blank">How do Dinosaurs Clean Their Rooms</a>?</i> by Jane Yolen - Our babies enjoyed these silly dinosaurs. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1SudHD3" target="_blank"><i>Moo Baa La La La</i></a> and <a href="http://amzn.to/1R9xXel" target="_blank"><i>The Going to Bed Book</i></a> by Sandra Boynton - Our kids cracked up over these two books. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Honorable Mention</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1Sudikf" target="_blank">Pat Them Gently</a> </i>by Melanie O'Brien - I recommend this book if you have a pet cat or dog that Baby needs to learn how to be gentle with. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1SucGuJ" target="_blank">The Foot Book</a>,</i> <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1R9wFjr" target="_blank">The Tooth Book</a>,</i> <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1R9wGUp" target="_blank">The Eye Book</a> </i>& <a href="http://amzn.to/1R9wsMZ" target="_blank"><i>Dr. Seuss's ABC</i></a> - These are more rhyming little Dr. Seuss board books</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1Sud6kS" target="_blank"><i>Guess How Much I Love You</i></a> by Sam McBratney - This is a sweet story about how much a mother and baby bunny love each other. I think I appreciated it a little more than my kids did though, haha. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1R9x19A" target="_blank"><i>Goodnight, My Love</i></a> by Sandra Magsamen - This is another one of our bedtime books. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1SucBY0" target="_blank">Violet's House</a> </i>from Baby Einstein - This is an over-sized touch-and-feel book that has good textures to touch. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Be sure to pin this post so you can come back when you need baby shower gift ideas! Happy reading!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2150858247289954400.post-69999355939418244512015-12-21T07:00:00.000-06:002016-01-10T15:52:41.694-06:00Classic Education... the Charlotte Mason way<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1Y6_mhadetsX1LLdEXSI3zMa-4F-jrBH43QBRpv9zmjkj6IXnEyXkPlqbjFrn4pFipWa5rsojhZ22nZ_TFUXesM4fmvPpW3el-Yqg09w4y7rjMVHfoZwLJvxYp2N_1GA4-gPNuUsa75Y/s1600/th.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1Y6_mhadetsX1LLdEXSI3zMa-4F-jrBH43QBRpv9zmjkj6IXnEyXkPlqbjFrn4pFipWa5rsojhZ22nZ_TFUXesM4fmvPpW3el-Yqg09w4y7rjMVHfoZwLJvxYp2N_1GA4-gPNuUsa75Y/s200/th.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Classical Education is the age-old method that produced many educational "giants" like Aristotle, Newton, C.S. Lewis, and Thomas Jefferson, among others. You can't pin one precise recipe for Classical Education, since of course the Greeks and Romans didn't all do the exact same thing, or even label their educational method as "Classical," for that matter. But they did have a common goal. It was not the mere development of the intellect, but also that of producing virtue in their pupils and influencing their conduct. Students were taught to think for themselves and become life-long learners. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Classical Education involves teaching children is based on their stage of cognitive development: Grammar, Dialectic, then Rhetoric. Most educators today would define those stages as something like this: </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<ol>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Grammar - Grade school students absorb lots of facts, laying the foundation for future study</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dialectic - Middle school students begin questioning and evaluating the facts, and learn to think through arguments</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rhetoric - High school students apply what they've learned by making arguments themselves through speech, writing, etc.</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Interestingly enough, what we call "Classical Education" today isn't necessarily so. I recently read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1500808032/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1500808032&linkCode=as2&tag=tracstrea-20&linkId=P5JPPQ67YML3AS56" target="_blank">a great book showing the connection between Classical Education and the Charlotte Mason approach</a>. I came to realize upon reading it that today's version of Classical Education (whether in schools or home schools) may be an attempt to replicate doing <i>what</i> classical educators did rather than getting to the heart of <i>why</i> they did it. This actually matters a great deal, as it can result in the modern version no longer remaining true to the original purpose. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let me explain. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Classic Education began with Rich Literature, Not Rote Memorization</span></b></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Everyone agrees that Grammar is the first stage of Classical Education, but our definition of it has drastically changed over the years. Today, grammar is defined as the structure of language, and it it has much to do with the learning of rules and the proper application of them. Similarly, the "Grammar Stage" of Classical Education is generally defined as the memorization of many, many facts. However, the original "Grammar Stage" meant something entirely different. "Grammar" meant "Literature" and the words were even used interchangeably in Quintilian's writings. The original beginning of education was that of learning to read and reading the best books. Education began with an immersion in quality literature, not rote drill.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Over time Classic Education came to mean different things. Take for example the ties between Classic Education and the study of Latin. It originally began because nearly all books were written in classical languages rather than common, so educators during the Renaissance period had to teach Latin as a stepping stone for their students to read literature. Learning Latin was not the original goal... reading great literature was. Of course eventually literature became printed in the common languages, so Latin study was no longer needed. But educators kept Latin study in schools for its own sake of mental exercise, and it eventually grew to the point where it was the new focus rather than literature.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Enter Charlotte Mason</span></b></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GfnRlt4-Q8Iy71vnBmJxXxyU4sbhFNu7FQ3PlAt03Qb9WY53bKfYATv0qwZj79_fa24j-5eFvLHhw47PRCizSm9fuOmMO7iuFm7jRWpoWuSnk3I6yBOed_cY5g7Bsss61S-CwqwA6ERL/s1600/Charlotte_Mason_1902_Frederic_Yates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GfnRlt4-Q8Iy71vnBmJxXxyU4sbhFNu7FQ3PlAt03Qb9WY53bKfYATv0qwZj79_fa24j-5eFvLHhw47PRCizSm9fuOmMO7iuFm7jRWpoWuSnk3I6yBOed_cY5g7Bsss61S-CwqwA6ERL/s320/Charlotte_Mason_1902_Frederic_Yates.jpg" width="234" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By Charlotte Mason's time, classical schools had lost their original vision of "Grammar" in the early years. Instead of delightful exposure to great books, young children were commonly burned out with an abundance of mechanical learning. What was once enjoyable was now tedious. Nineteenth century "Classical Education" was known by all as "the grind." </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Charlotte recognized the difference between the original meaning of Grammar (literature) and the common practice of it (a drudgery). Even if students read some classic literature, it would be painfully analyzed line by line rather than enjoyed as a beautiful story. She also recognized that as students spent an abundance of their time learning the mechanics of language and Latin, it crowded out much-needed time spent in quality literature.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Mason Method</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Charlotte proceeded to develop her philosophy of education by determining how to best achieve classic ideals in modern education. She believed education was an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life. </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Education is an atmosphere. Children shouldn't be isolated in a "child environment," as they'll thrive best in a more natural, home-like environment.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Education is a discipline. Great emphasis was placed on intentional habit training. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Education is a life. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rather than filling children with facts, educators should feed their minds with living thoughts and ideas. Children should be given a generous curriculum with real, quality literature and allowed to digest it themselves. </span><span style="background-color: snow; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: start;">They should know variety of great thoughts and beautiful ideas in the form of language, art, music, poetry, bible, history, nature and science. </span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: snow; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: start;"></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: snow; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: snow; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Charlotte Mason Method is full of rich literature. Instead of using textbooks with dry, summarized information, students read "<a href="https://simplycharlottemason.com/faq/livingbook/" target="_blank">living books</a>" written by someone with a passion for the subject who makes it come alive. This includes reading many classics over the years (not abridged, school versions with pre-made questions and conclusions). </span></span><span style="background-color: snow; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: start;">Instead of the teacher acting as a middle man, reciting filtered knowledge, children have direct communication with great thinkers, inventors, explorers, and leaders by reading their biographies. </span><span style="background-color: snow; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: start;">Students then make use of </span><a href="http://www.tracystreasury.blogspot.com/2015/08/better-than-worksheets-quizzes-tests.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: start;" target="_blank">narration</a><span style="background-color: snow; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> to tell back what they've learned, and in the upper years naturally transition into written composition and persuasive argument.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Charlotte Mason Today</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Charlotte's methods were published in her book <i>Home Education </i>1886, then revived again by the book <i><a href="http://amzn.to/21nNo5r" target="_blank">For the Children's Sake</a> </i>in 1984. This book applied her ideas to home schooling, public and private school. By that time her original writings were very hard to come by. In fact, even the Charlotte Mason College in England had a <i>single copy</i>, locked up for safe keeping in a vault. With some persuasion, a homeschooling couple managed to borrow that greatly treasured book set, in order to bring it to America for reprinting. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(You can <a href="http://homeschoolpioneers.com/2015/12/05/dean-and-karen-andreola/" target="_blank">read their story here</a>!) With her writings republished and made accessible to the public, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">modern educators began embracing her philosophy once again. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Classical Education... The Charlotte Mason Way</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As her method re-gained momentum, educators generally labeled it as "The Charlotte Mason Method." In truth, they could simply call it "Classical Education." Any classical educator must determine how to implement classical ideals for their students in the modern world. That is exactly what Charlotte Mason did in her day, and what educators do today in her name. What is labeled as classical education today overlaps a great deal with what we call Charlotte Mason education, particularly in the upper years. The main difference is found in the grammar years, whether they are spent enjoying rich literature and nature study or focused on the memorization of facts. Technically, Charlotte Mason educators ARE classic educators, they're simply doing it Charlotte Mason's way.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>*To read more about the connection between Charlotte Mason and Classical Education, check out the book "<a href="http://amzn.to/1muDwa1" target="_blank">Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition</a>."</i></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329970392697338102noreply@blogger.com0