WatchKnow - Videos for kids to learn from. Organized. | Diigo

WatchKnow - Videos for kids to learn from. Organized. | Diigo

Christmas Links for Your Family!

Christmas Links for Your Family!: "

Over the years I have accumulated quite a list of holiday links. I would like to share them with you…maybe there is something here that will bless you this holiday? Enjoy!

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Online Christmas Lessons

Over the years I have found some neat unit studies and activities online and would like to share the links with you! There are some wonderful units listed below ~ and they are all FREE! Enjoy!

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/11/free-jesse-tree-advent-devotional-book/

A Jesus Advent Celebration by Ann Voskamp (Free Download) Ann Voskamp finished up rewriting these wonderful Jesse Tree devotions…and she is making them available as a free download on her blog! HIGHLY recommended!

http://www.jesustreedecorations.com

Make a Jesus Tree! You can download a PDF file with the Jesus Tree Ornaments and lessons to go along with each ornament!

http://www.easyfunschool.com/article1679.html – Original Unit Study

http://www.easyfunschool.com/NamesofJesus.html – Expanded Unit Study

Names of Jesus Unit Study

http://www.easyfunschool.com/Blessed.pdf

A Blessed Christmas: A Unit Study Approach to Studying the Symbols of Christmas

This unit study is EXCELLENT! This link will take you to the PDF file. You can save the PDF file to your hard drive and then print it out for use over and over!

http://www.easyfunschool.com/article1680.html

Good Christian Men Rejoice Unit Study

This unit study covers some of the favorite Christmas Hymns!

http://www.easyfunschool.com/IndexChristmas.html

This is EasyFunSchool’s Christmas page! There are so many great ideas here! Take a look!

http://www.cresourcei.org/jesse.html

Make a Jesse Tree! This site will give you complete directions!

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Sheri’s List of Holiday Links:

Christmas Gift Tag Designer Software

Design your very own gift tags and print them out for all your gifts!

http://www.akidsheart.com/holidays/christms/cgifttags.htm



All kinds of recipes for gift giving, including gifts in a jar and more!

This is a beautiful website with a TON of recipes! She has all kinds of holiday recipes, gifts in a jar (some recipes include the gift tags to print with the baking directions!)…you HAVE to take a look! Why not get your kids involved and make up a bunch of these recipes for neighbors, friends, etc.

http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/

MAKE BEAUTIFUL SNOWFLAKES!

Go to these web pages to print out and make some beautiful paper snowflakes! These are so pretty and so easy to make! Do a bunch for your tree and to hang in the window! Once you have cut them out, press between two sheets of paper with an iron on the LOW setting. Beautiful!!!

http://www.daves-snowflakes.com/patterns.html

http://www.marcels-kid-crafts.com/snowflake-pattern.html

An Easy Christmas Tree Ornament to Make!

http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/christmas_crafts_3.htm

Tons of Great Christmas Activities, Projects, and Unit Studies!

http://www.easyfunschool.com/IndexChristmas.html

Christmas Activities from Eclectic Homeschool Online

http://www.eclectichomeschool.org/christmas/christmasunitstudy.asp

More Homeschool Christmas Resources

http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/schoolroom/christmas.php

Christmas Worksheets & Puzzles

http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/xmas/holidaycrosswords/Luke2ChristmasWorksheets.pdf

Nativity Bookmarks

These lovely bookmarks would make great stocking stuffers for your children!

http://www.teacherhelp.org/pdf/chrisbkmkniv.pdf

Printable Nativity Scene

This would be a fun activity for your children – make their very own nativity scene!

http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/christmas/nativityalbum/index.htm

Nativity Lapbook

Create a neat nativity lapbook with your children!

http://www.scribd.com/word/download/525730?extension=pdf

Christmas Nativity Felt Board Patterns

You can use these patterns for a felt board, for puppets, or decorations for your home!

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/felt/index.htm

Online Advent Calendar

This looks like a neat advent calendar with devotionals and activities

http://www.teachingmom.com/features/advent.html



Christian Christmas Advent Calendar

http://www.our.homewithgod.com/mkcathy/MerryChristmas/advent/

The Gingerbread Baby Unit Study

This is just one unit study available on this website! Click on their unit study link (at the top of the page) to see other units they have available@

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/gingerbread_baby.php



Jesse Tree Online Calendar

This is a neat calendar that gives you some activities, books, a Christmas hymn, etc. to read/do/sing each day. Even if you have another Jesse Tree devotional you are using (Like Ann Voskamp’s wonderful The Glorious Coming Jesse Tree devotions!), click through the days of this calendar for some wonderful memory making ideas!

http://www.jesse-trees.com/calendar.html

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Friends, A free gift just for you...to bless you as you serve the Lord and your families. Click here to download your free copy of Bountiful Breakfasts.

These 'gifts' will change from time to time!

To share with others, please direct them to Graham Family Ministries to subscribe. Thank you!

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Make Festive Scented Playdough This Season Minieco | Apartment Therapy Ohdeedoh

Make Festive Scented Playdough This Season Minieco | Apartment Therapy Ohdeedoh

Painting with Small Children

Painting with Small Children: "As a brand-new home schooling family, we're branching out in our craft projects at home. Thursdays have become, much to my kids' delight, Painting Day. (As our oldest is just in Kindergarten, our "home school" is VERY fun right now!)

I was nervous about a weekly Painting Day, but here is how we have successfully been using paints with a five and a two-year-old.

• For children who are able, have an assignment. You could set something out for them to paint a picture of, or talk about a character or scene in a favorite story for them to depict. Discuss the details with them first, and get them excited about what they're about to do.


• If pictures quickly become a 'paint lake', try limiting the paint colors.


• Pour washable paints into smaller containers- our favorites are mini muffin tins, or plastic trays that used to hold goodies. The trays you see above used to hold ice cream-filled mochi.


• Teach children to stroke the page with their brush, and never scribble.


• Very small children can have a lot of fun painting if you first pour dribbles of paint all over their page and let them use brushes and fingers to paint their own picture. This is a great high chair activity!


• I stapled a large piece of oil cloth to our kitchen table as a semi-permanent tablecloth, and it is simply amazing for doing art projects on. Crayons, markers, paints, and even ball point pens wipe right up.


• Good smocks are a sanity-saver. We found these inexpensive smocks at Ikea, and they are great for protecting them from neck to knee. If I could change one thing, the sleeves would be fitted so they don't drag through the paint and projects. Old dress shirts from Dad's closet, worn backwards, are also a great option (although not waterproof.)


• We have laminate floors that are, as far as I can tell, indestructible. However if you DON'T have such impervious floors, a drop cloth under the work area is a great option in case something spills.


• Finally, and most importantly, just let the kids paint!

We've had a lot of fun painting together -- yes, I paint pictures too, and no I don't bother to correct people when they compliment my five-year-old on "her" beautiful art work! And as an added bonus, as our days get shorter and light gets scarcer, I have an unending supply to cheerful artwork to bring light and warmth into our home.

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Myrnie is Mom to two little girls, wife to her husband, and a lifelong book junkie. She can be found crafting and gabbing here and being all crunchy here.

Photo credits: Myself

Copyright 2008-2010, MMBlogs, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

"

Homeschool World: News: What's in Practical Homeschooling #95?

Homeschool World: News: What's in Practical Homeschooling #95?

Welcome! | Woo! Jr. Kids Activities Network

Welcome! | Woo! Jr. Kids Activities Network

7 Characteristics to Instill in Your Home

7 Characteristics to Instill in Your Home

Illuminations: Welcome to Illuminations

Illuminations: Welcome to Illuminations

On Boxes and Oatmeal Cookies (recipe)

On Boxes and Oatmeal Cookies (recipe): "

For Muslims around the world, today marks the first day of Eid-ul-Fitr, a celebration marking the end of the fasting month or Ramadan. The girls have left for the night to celebrate the event with their father, so I’ve been blessed with some time off and as many mothers do when they are suddenly confronted by an empty house. I took a nap.

We’ve had a busy few days with visiting with friends and working on projects. The highlight of their day yesterday was making oatmeal cookies with their friend, J, and her mother. We came across an awesome recipe, and I made a few modifications with it and these cookies are just as good (if not better)!

Chewy Oatmeal-Currant-Raisin Cookies

Yummy cookies!

(makes 48)

You will need:

• 3/4 cup butter, softened


• 3/4 cup white sugar


• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar


• 2 eggs


• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract


• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour


• 1 teaspoon baking soda


• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon


• 1/8 teaspoon salt


• 2 3/4 cups oatmeal flour (place oatmeal in blender)


• 3/4 cup raisins


• 1/2 cup dried currants

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).


2. In large bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until fluffy. Stir together flours, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Gradually beat into butter mixture. Stir in raisins and currants. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.


3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown. Cool slightly, remove from sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

"

How to Have a Successful School Year (Part 2)

How to Have a Successful School Year (Part 2): "

On Monday of this week we began discussing ten tips on how to have a successful school year. Today here are tips 6-10.

6. Set goals. Parents and students, set goals together. A higher algebra grade, a position on the soccer team, increased reading for pleasure, anything that will help you in school and increase your confidence. Goals should be a bit of a stretch to create a feeling of accomplishment. Parents, support your student as she works toward that goal. Consider a fair "reward" for success as well as a "consequence" for not making the goal.

7. Stay positive. This is true for parents and students alike. There will be good days and weeks, and there will be not-so-good ones. Keep it all in balanced perspective. What can you learn from your mistakes? Talk with one another. This is another opportunity to show you care and are positive about the possibilities of the new school year. Students, maintain friendships with those who care and support you. Stay away from those who don't. You know who they are.

8. Be prepared. If you’ve read any of my blogs, you know how much stock I put in preparation. When we’re prepared, we feel much more confident than when we’re just winging it. So, parents, give your child the confidence she needs by helping her prepare for this new adventure. If she’s going to a new school, visit it. Learn where the classrooms are, the bathrooms, the lockers, the cafeteria, and any other places where she’ll be heading. Get all the materials she’ll need for class. Review the school calendar with her and mark your own kitchen calendar – displayed where everyone can see it – with important dates like report cards, due-dates for projects, PTA meeting, and the like.

9. Review regularly. Every day, parents, review the day with your child. Ask him what he’s learning, reading, writing about. How’s he coming on that assignment due next week? What happened today that’s funny? Show him you’re interested and that you’re going to be talking about this every day. Expect conversation, not just one word answers. Be patient. It’ll work eventually.

10. Stay involved. Parents, stick with it, even when your adolescent seems he’s not interested in your help. It’s an act, required by the Adolescents’ Pact to Drive Parents Crazy, which all kids secretly sign. Students, yes, we adults know you want independence, but we care about you and want to be nearby when you need us, which you will.

For more tips on school success, routines, study buddies, and setting goals, click on Archive above. As always, we welcome comments and tips from our readers.

"

How to Set and Achieve Goals

How to Set and Achieve Goals: "

Yes, it’s happening already. A new school year is fast approaching. What does your child want to accomplish? How to teach him to set school goals and a course of action? Over the years, I’ve helped students set goals as they maneuver through the elementary-, middle-, and high-school maze. Here are some tips that have proved helpful for kids of all ages and their parents.

1. 
   
   Work as a family. Develop the goals together, encourage him to involve a trusted teacher or friend, but remember the goals are ultimately his. Help him to understand the best goals, the ones that result in real feelings of accomplishment, are the ones that require a bit of a stretch. Talk over general ideas – an improved algebra grade, better study habits, mastering clarinet in band class, making sports editor for the school paper – and help him set priorities, but let him make the final decisions. Setting his own goals increases his motivation and self-sufficiency. This teaches independence.
   
   




2. 
   
   Keep the goals simple, clear, and easy to understand. For young children, short-term goals are the best because they’re, well, short and result in higher rates of achievement. Daily goals are the best – “What shall we do today in the park?” “What book shall we check out of the library?” Older kids in late elementary and middle school can be introduced to longer-term goals. This teaches planning.
   
   




3. 
   
   Remember goals can change. As a matter of fact, sometimes they should change. Often we change our minds as we mature, learn additional facts and skills, or see a better course of action. Children discover new talents and interests all the time, which cause them to change their goals. (Intelligent, purposeful consistency is essential in learning, but remember the words of Emerson: “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds . . .”) This teaches flexibility.
   
   




4. 
   
   Break goals into small steps. Just like you’ve taught her to do with important assignments. It’s much easier to achieve small, reachable goals than to face a seemingly insurmountable task. “I’ll read chapter one today, and by Friday, I’ll complete the first three chapters” is easier to reach than “I’ll read the whole book one of these days.” This teaches organization.
   
   




5. 
   
   Celebrate each completed step toward the goal. Kids love to earn our recognition and congratulations. A hearty “Well done!” accompanied by a high-five goes a long way. Kids are motivated by the praise almost as much as the feeling of accomplishment. (They can also spot an empty, unearned compliment a mile a way, so be judicious in your praise.) Some alone time with you, without siblings, can be just the motivation to keep going. This teaches persistence.
   
   




6. 
   
   Monitor progress regularly. Check up on the younger kids frequently, and let the older ones know you’re aware of their goals and deadlines. Adjust your monitoring as they show they need more or less of your checking up on them. This teaches concentration.
   
   




7. 
   
   Write the goals down. Be specific, otherwise they’re just wishes. Help your child to create a game plan or an outline that will lead to her accomplishing her goal. How long will it take? What resources will she need? Who can help? This teaches attention to detail.
   
   




8. 
   
   Anticipate setbacks. They happen. It’s okay – in fact, it’s human – to make mistakes. Sometimes we give ourselves too little time to make a goal. Or we’re not able to foresee every circumstance. Or something out of our control throws us off track. So we learn from our mistakes. This teaches perspective.
   
   




9. 
   
   Show how you make goals. Let them see that you ask advice, weigh pros and cons, occasionally change your mind, and keep yourself focused as you work on your goals. Involve kids in appropriate family goals. Be a role model. This teaches family cohesion.
   
   




10. 
    
    Stay focused. Help your child to keep her eye on the proverbial ball. Have someone who can help, a hero or heroine, a study buddy, a mentor, an admired friend. Show how athletes, for instance, fix a goal in their mind and then aim wholeheartedly for it. Michael Phelps and his famous determination come to mind. This teaches concentration.
    
    

Setting goals and determining the plans to achieve them are among the most important school skills students can have. Right up there with helpful routines, good attitudes, organization, a positive attitude, and getting help when it’s necessary. It’s never too early to show kids how to manage their learning and feel the confidence that comes with accomplishment.

We’d love to hear your comments, ideas, and success stories with your children and students. Just click on Comments below.

"

Family | Real Simple

Family | Real Simple

Wowie!!! A brand new school year......

Image by mommykoggiboo via Flickr

Welcome to our school's journal and witness to the miraculous journeys discoveries and adventures that come with a year in the life of three highly intelligent extremely inquisitive talented hilarious magnetically outgoing amazingly energetic brightly bursting with good health and cheer enthusiastically demonstrative and clever adorably precious most loving and loved sweetest and tenderly thoughtful kiddos really just beginning to blossom to the call of unraveling and mastering the universe's many mysteries with the intensity that makes formal education a necessity! We as a family are guided by our strong set of beliefs morals and values as well as the needs of our family to remain and fortify our strength as one family acting on behalf of our children with their needs emotionally physically socially academically spiritually developmentally and all else that is crucial to their functioning and thriving as healthy well rounded well adjusted well educated and trained upstanding pillars and citizens of their family, community, society, and country! We are governing our behaviors and intentions in supporting the health and all around well being of our children as God and Country asserted is our right as one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all believing that we are answering to our children's call to learn in a Montessori supported approach rather than forcing them to conform to one right way of uniform learning. Our children are individuals and all have special needs in how we help guide them, instruct them, and support their educational needs and goals We simply want to share our school's efforts and achievements and look to enjoy exploring all the different programs and materials that are out there so that we do do right by our children by expanding the resources and variety of choices and options that are available to them. We are a no conflict peaceful loving christian family and we are not looking to engage in any conflicts or battles with others for we respect our fellow neighbor and expect the same courtesy in return! So now that we have gotten that out of the way, bring on the school supplies!!! :o) I love arts and crafts and just so you know how totally nutty I am, the other day I had some Elmer's glue on my hands from an earlier project with the kids and while my oldest daughter was helping them wash their hands and get ready for snack, I caught myself peeling it off of my hands without even thinking about what I was doing, and I loved how it felt when it wound itself around my cuticles and fingernails-- so of course I had to do it again and it reminded me of this time I was in 2nd grade. One of my friends introduced me to this great project; you take the glue bottle and pour a pretty fair amount onto the vinyl pencil pouch that is from your three ring binder, spread it out to what we now as moms know is how you make homemade fruit roll-ups :o) and when it dries, you cut out fingernails. Yep, you get the scissors and shape them to say Dolly Parton nails and then you decorate them with all your little glitter goodies and markers, paints, stickers, etc. COOL OR WHAT!!! Okay, even my girls thought mommy was having a SPECIAL moment!!! I love it when I get to just hang out with the girls and be a weirdo!!! :o)I'm so not cool but they don't know it yet so it's all good!!! :o)  

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