Saturday, February 12, 2011

Quick and Easy Valentine Bookmarks

Quick and Easy Valentine Bookmarks
(Or Elaborate Any-Time Bookmarks, Made by You!)

You have a Valentine's Day get-together with your homeschool group (or play group) and you forgot to buy valentines. ( I know I am the only one who has done this!) You don't have to spend big bucks, or go out of your way to buy a boxed cards that will be tossed away as soon as the kids get home!

Handmade in a Hurry!

Think outside the box. You can use anything! Old magazines, buttons, notions, foam embellishments, ribbons, rick-rack, embroidery floss, stickers, punches, old cards, scraps or even paper plates!

You Might Be Surprised by Your Supplies

Crack out those scrap-booking supplies, old cards and even your notions. You can use anything to make these useful Valentine's Day bookmarks. (These will be used for months to come!)

These bookmarks would be acceptable to give to girls or boys!

The Basic Bookmark

I use my old paper-trimmer, but a ruler is just about the right width for a bookmark, which makes it easy to trace one and then cut along the lines. Those scrap-booking scissors with the funny edges are really nice to have too. They add interest to even the simplest bookmarks. The basic bookmark is two layers. (In addition to embellishments.) The top piece measuring 6" x 1.5", and the bottom piece measuring 6.5" x 2". Anyway, the top piece measures 1/2 an inch larger than the bottom piece, which creates a nice border of contrasting color.

Cut It, Glue It and Tie It Off - You're Done!

If you have the time, adding sequins, jewels, glitter paint or other embellishments add "Wow!" but when my daughter was in a hurry to get somewhere with her collection of Valentines, we set up an assembly line. My daughter picked two or three papers she liked, one of us cut paper, the next person glued the papers together, and the third punched the hole at the top, fed the ribbon through and tied it off. Voila! We had a dozen valentines finished in about fifteen minutes!

Older kids will enjoy embellishing in lots of ways!

Punches, Stickers, Buttons or Rhinestones!

I love using paper-punches. Not just heart-shaped, but all of them! These bookmarks might be used for years to come, so anything goes. If you are a purist, however, stick to pinks, reds and hears. You will still get "ooh's" and "ah's!" Fix the embellishments to the bookmark with glue, scrap-booking adhesive or double-sided tape. I have used glue-sticks, but sometimes the pretty stuff falls off after a while. The adhesive is just not strong enough for creations that are handled much.

Punch a hole in the top for the finishing touch - a ribbon!

Valentine Bookmarks for Every Age

When my children were younger, I would construct the basic bookmark, then let my children embellish them with stickers, and sign their names. Now that they are older, they enjoy using funky scrap-booking scissors, rhinestones, glitter paint and even stamps to embellish their creations.

Little ones will enjoy adding stickers for their friends' bookmarks.

Don't Forget the Signature!

It's especially fun to save one from each child, each year, in your memory box. Their creations show big changes, and their signatures do too! If you make some Valentine Bookmarks (or any bookmarks, for that matter) send me some photos and I will feature them on the Stone Soup Project Gallery! Email Stone Soup!

Comments? I LOVE them! (Click HERE!)

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Homeschooling: Can I Really Do This?

Am I capable? I'm not a certified teacher.

I know this idea flies in the face of conventional wisdom, but You have always been your children's teacher. You are the first and best teacher for your children, because you know their strengths and weaknesses intimately. If you are not strong in particular subject, you will find a way for your kids to learn what they need to. I will touch more on this later, but I have learned a great deal right along with my kids. They like it when mom learns with them.

Will there be "holes" in their education?

Many new homeschoolers get caught up in thinking, "Will there be holes in their education?" The answer is, "Yes and no." The fact is, there is no perfect education. The most effective tools you can give your children are:
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1) How to find information.
2) How to use information to accomplish their goals.
3) How to communicate information to others.
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If you accomplish this, you will have prepared them well for college, and for life. Furthermore, if your children enjoy learning, they will be lifelong learners. What a wonderful gift to give your kids!

But, I don't have money for curriculum.

I am amazed by what is available now for homeschooling families. There is A LOT on the internet, specifically---Much of it free. I have included some recommendations, later in this post, for free, complete curriculum you can find online. Are you near a library? We use the library a lot, not only for personal reading, but also for reference books. I have really appreciated the reference books available to me from the library, because they are expensive! Another resource I have enjoyed from the library is educational videos. I have tried to use as many methods I can think of when feeding my children information---and they enjoy the visual element offered by videos.

Where should I start?

It is not imperative that you have it all worked out before you begin. Following are three sites that are perfect for homeschoolers starting out, because all the prep work is done for you---and they are totally free! A totally complete, totally free curriculum you can look at is Head of the Class. Head of the class provides lesson plans, printable worksheets and activities by grade level. Another one, but it will probably require a little more work on your part (in preparation time) though it is all spelled out for you, is Lesson Pathways. Lesson Pathways uses resources and sites all over the internet, all free. A third site you might look into is Ambleside Online. Ambleside provides a completely free curriculum and complete lesson plans, but it is in the "Charlotte Mason" method, which is wonderful, but a little different from your typical "school" method. The Charlotte Mason method uses a combination of nature study through exploration, classical literature and narration. I have moved more toward this method in my own teaching, because it seems very natural to me. It's yours to decide what will best work for you. When I first started, I didn't know what that was, so if that's how you feel, starting with the simplest is best. You can "tweak" things later, as you discover how your children best learn.

Am I all alone?

Oh heavens, no! There are many homeschoolers out there, now. Some, like you, are just starting out. Some, like me, have been homeschooling for decades. No matter where you are in your homeschooling journey, finding support is really important. Having a support group to turn to when you have questions, or when you have a bad day is essential. These are the folks who will lift you up when you feel like you can't go on, and will rejoice with you when you experience a victory. Remember that subject I mentioned, the one you might not be very strong in? This is also the place to go with those kinds of things. Perhaps math isn't your strongest subject, but you can teach writing without breaking a sweat. There will be someone else out there whose needs compliment yours. We must lean on the homeschooling community, not only to glean the strength and encouragement we need, but to provide that to others as well.

If you live in an area without a support group nearby, I have provided some resources where you can find online support. Simply click the button below. You will be redirected to my post on finding a support groups. There are lots of links there. Below that is my "Comments" button. I would love to hear from you!

Friday, December 31, 2010

Defending Homeschooling

by Linda Difino

I’ve believed in homeschooling since before I had children. I’ve practiced homeschooling for nearly 20 years. Now, better-late-than-never, I’ve become a fierce defender of homeschooling!

What do you say when others question your decision to homeschool?

For years I allowed public opinion and my own fear of offending others to temper my attempts at defending my choice to homeschool… A decision which, ironically, I had made with complete confidence, believing that it was the ONLY choice for my children. Yet, despite my personal convictions, when questioned, I found myself uttering half-hearted responses like:

“Homeschooling is a great option, but it’s not for everyone.”
“I always wanted to be a teacher, so homeschooling was the perfect option for me… I can be a teacher and stay at home with my children.”
“My school district isn’t the greatest, and I can’t afford private school, so homeschooling is really my best option.”
“‘What about socialization?’… well, my children go to Sunday School, Awana, baseball, dance class, library story time, YMCA gym class and homeschool field trips.”

However, a couple of years ago I began to listen — really listen — to the answers I uttered in response to my curious and often skeptical friends and family. And when I listened, here’s what I heard myself saying…

“For some people, school is really a much better option. Homeschooling doesn’t work well for everyone.”
“The real reason I’m qualified to teach my children at home is that I am a certified teacher.”
“A good school system is really a better option than homeschooling.”
“Socialization is such a critically important part of the public school experience that homeschoolers need to work extra hard to fill their children’s lives with a plethora of ‘social’ experiences so as not to permanently damage their emotional and psychological development.”

I’ll give myself credit for one thing. I’m a nice person. But in my attempt to be nice, I spent a lot of years making a big mistake. By offering these somewhat apologetic answers, I managed to undersell… and even undermine… the success of the very thing that I have staked my childrens’ entire academic futures on. And in the process, I have managed to give the impression that I think homeschooling is nothing more than just another option. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Public school is RARELY the best option. While public schools don’t fail every child, our country’s public schools put all children at risk spiritually, academically, emotionally, and socially. Why would any parent knowingly expose their children to these risks if they don’t have to?
Despite what “the experts” have to say, a child’s parent is almost always better qualified to teach his or her children than a certified teacher. (And unfortunately, I do feel the need to qualify that statement to some degree!) A parent knows and understands a child’s academic and emotional needs and is better suited to meet those needs than anyone… even without “credentials”.
Even in “good” schools children do not achieve the same level of success as their homeschooled counterparts. Lynn O’Shaughnessy’s recent article helps to strengthen the argument that public schools, even at their very best, can NOT compete with homeschooling in terms of producing a well-rounded, well-adjusted, well-educated child.
The socialization that children are exposed to in schools today is largely negative. Period. When a child is socialized in a group of other children, very little good can come from it. Socialization is the process by which a child develops into a mature, productive member of society. Exactly what qualifications does a school-aged child possess that authorize him to assist other children in this all-important process? The process of socialization is accomplished more effectively at home than anywhere else. Studies increasingly show that homeschooled children ARE better socialized than children schooled in public schools.

So, in recent years, I have attempted to give more honest answers to the questions that I am asked about homeschooling. In fact, at times I have been brutally honest when asked to defend my own decision to homeschool.

Guess what? Some people don’t like hearing the truth. And I think I know why.

Sometimes the truth hurts.

Linda is a 40-something blissfully married, work- at-home, homeschooling mom of 4 amazing kids: 23, 21, 19, AND 6. When she’s not home-making, homeschooling or working, she can be found blogging the joys and rewards of homeschooling and life at The Joyful Journey and at The Homeschool Apologist. A 20-year veteran of homeschooling, Linda enjoys being an educator and supporter of homeschool families in her hometown and around the country.

Article Source: Homeschool-Articles.com

Friday, December 24, 2010

Support is a Gift

Support is a Gift You Give to Yourself

If you have not yet sought out homeschool support yet, either where you live or "virtual support" on the internet, I hope you will make that a priority in the new year. None of us is an island, and we were not created to struggle through our journey on this earth alone. If you are not sure where to start, try some of the resources here. Reach out, you will be glad you did!

A to Z Home's Cool

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Regional and world wide homeschool associations, support groups, laws and other local home- schooling esources such as field trips in places all over the world.

Christian Homeschool Hub

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A community for Christian HomeSchoolers. Connect with other Homeschooling Parents. Learn from other homeschooling parents. Share your knowlege and resources and encourage on another.

Homeschool.com

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Homeschool.com's drop-down menu, by state and region is convenient, but there is a bit of sorting that you must do, as paid-ads are mixed into the list that comes up for your region.

Local Homeschool

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You can tell this site is well-cared for. Lots of active links. Many groups listed - including Yahoo groups. The link "Search Groups" is on the left side of the screen. Options to search by Community, County or State available.

Yahoo Groups

Yahoo groups are an excellent alternative to an actual physical support group. When we lived in a rural town, there were no physical support groups close to my home. I found loving, attentive support in a Yahoo group. You can use the search bar for with any specifications you like. (i.e. "Denver Homeschool Support")

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Win an iPad from Frugal Family Fun

Giveaway: iPad plus Assorted Children's Books from Target

Read below for details!

Go to Frugal Family Fun Blog to enter to win an iPad and an assortment of children’s books courtesy of Target!

This is not a scam. This give-away is hosted by one of my favorite blogs, Frugal Family Fun.

Comments? I would love to hear them!

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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Write for Stone Soup

Stone Soup is Looking for Guest Bloggers

Do you have something to say? Stone Soup Homeschool Network is looking for guest bloggers. You could write only once, or submit regular, weekly or monthly articles. It's totally up to you! Lesson plans, home organization, or your most recent trip to the museum... What will YOU write about?

Here are some ideas:

Apples and Fall, Art, American History
Burnout: How to Cope on Tough Days
Creative Ways to Teach Spelling or College-Dual Enrollment
Entrepreneurs or Electives
Foreign Languages (including sign language)
Geography Projects or Graduation Ideas
Homeschooling through High School or Homeschool Alumni
Latin, LEGOS or Lunches
Micro Businesses, Math Fun or Music Theory
Needlework or Notebooking
Organizing for the School Year, Online Classes
Preschool or Poetry
Quilting or Common Questions
Resources or Reading
Special Needs or Scheduling
Time-lines or Toddlers
Unit Studies or US History
Videos or Vocabulary
Winter Fitness or Weekly Planning
Xylophones or X-Rays
Yearbooks or Yahoo Groups
Zoo Trips, or the History of Zippers...

Click here to read our Writer's Guidelines.

What are you passionate about? You could write about it and publish it here!

If you would like to consider writing as a guest contributor for Stone Soup Homeschool Network, please read our Writers' Guidelines:

Comments? I would love to hear them!

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Friday, September 24, 2010

U.S. Geography Notebooks - Free!

Simple U.S. Geography Notebooks

Rather than using a "formal" geography curriculum, we have been making a "United States" Notebook. It began with a reproducible workbook that I found at the teachers' supply store. Later, we continued the Notebooks without the workbook (It was lost in our move!) The workbook is: Maps of the U.S.A. By Jo Ellen Moore (Evan-Moor Publishing) The link for that book will allow you to look at the pages, so you can decide if the content is worth paying for. Evan-Moor now offers it as an eBook. We also used the Scholastic Pocket U.S. Atlas as an information source.

For FREE? Really?

Now I realize that it could have easily been done for free, by using pertinent sites that I have found in the process. Below, I have listed the sites and the information that I used for the notebooks that we produced. It has been a fun way to study the states. My girls' knowledge of U.S.Geography has increased dramatically!

The Structure is Simple

The states in our notebooks were separated by regions, such as the Pacific Region, Southwest Region, etc. On each state page, we included a topographical map (colored by the child) including main cities, rivers, and any other feature that we thought were important (state flower, state bird, etc. On the flip-side of that page, we glued state flags that we had colored, and and a paragraph that we had written about that state. Of course, you can include as much or as little information as you like.

U.S. Geography Printables & Links
(All FREE!)

STATE UNIT STUDIES Homeschooling.About.com: My FAVORITE SOURCE for State Unit Studies printables, state fact sheets, coloring sheets, word searches, etc. Listed by state. Important: Once you go to the state page, you must scan down the page for the "Printable Pages" link. Then, to print the PDF's, you click on the title under the picture. There is a list of page numbers to click on as well. No need to click on each and every page number (thankfully!) when you hover over the page number with your mouse, a description of the page is visible. For example: Page 7 is the State Bird and Flower Coloring Page. If you cannot find what you are looking for, post a comment or send me (Robin Montoya) a message.

UNITED STATES MAPS AND WORKSHEETS Worksheet Works Customizable maps of every state, region, territory of this nation, as well as a few historical maps. The best source for MAPS.

THE FIFTY STATES InfoPlease.com: LOTS of state info, including census statistics, US History time-lines, and encapsulated state information/history with links. We have used this one a lot.

LEARN ABOUT THE 50 STATES NETSTATE.com: States listed alphabetically, State info summaries, state mottos, state links, etc.

FREE GEOGRAPHY WORKSHEETS TLS Books.com: Map activities, word searches, name the states worksheets, and more!

FREE COLORING PAGES Friends Across America: American landmarks and symbols, famous Americans and state birds and flowers listed alphabetically by state.