Homeschool Commmunity
At Christ the Word, we have a growing population of homeschooling parents. Below you can find the schedule of upcoming meetings and other info.
Homeschool moms, please share any ideas or information you may have to add to our Homeschool Directory. All submissions should be in a Microsoft Word file and sent to Andrew Dionne.
Also, please share any field trip ideas relating to art, music, theater, etc.
Website Reviews
BookAdventure.com
Review by: Jannel James
Book Adventure.com is a great web site that offers over 6,000 titles of reading books to choose from and is sponsored by the Sylvan Learning Foundation. Your child can create their own user name and password and use the Book Finder to search for books at any grade level with over 37 different choices of themes to read from. There are descriptions of the books so you can decide if it's the right book for you. The reading level is noted with each book title. After completing the book, your child can complete a multiple-choice quiz and receive prizes from points earned from these quizzes. Earn a bookmark, candy bar, books, games and more. Prizes change occasionally. At the end of the school year print out the Report for your child to show their list of books that was read to include in their school work folder. Book Adventure.com is a great way to encourage and spark the interest of reluctant readers and reward those who love to read as well. A 6-month subscription to Highlights magazine was a terrific reward for a young reader in our home. Try it and you'll be hooked with . . . Book Adventure.com!
Book Reviews
Mr. Popper's Penguins
by Robert Lawson
Review by: Jannel James
This is a wonderful book that is rated on a 6 th grade level on www.bookadventure.com I'd highly recommend it. It's a great read aloud book or easy enough for your child to read on his/her own. Mr. Popper has to get a penguin from the zoo to keep his homesick penguin company-soon there are 12! We checked two copies out of the library so both of our girls could read at the same time.
A first grader can read this amusing and fun book! - Review by Jannel James
Back to TopOther Web Site Recommendations
SCIENCE
Robert Krampf's Science Education Company
Robert Krampf uses his creative science background to show you interesting science experiments you can do at home. You can subscribe at the above address and receive free weekly science experiments via email. If you have questions about an experiment that just didn't work as expected, write him for additional suggestions. He is located in Jacksonville, FL so if you're in that area (on vacation!) and have an opportunity, you could attend one of his cool science shows. Browse his web site at www.krampf.com
NyeLabs.com
Bill Nye, the science guy...
READING
LoveToLearnPlace.com
The Reader and Writer Ace provide excellent book report forms you can print and use as you need them. Print each grade level that you need and keep a file of the originals. Make copies as you need them. They give thorough instructions on how to prepare a book report. Book reports are available beginning with Kindergarten and go through 6 th grade. For example, the kindergarten report asks the child to write in the title, author and draw a picture of what the book was about. First grade also asks for the favorite character.
CURRICULUM REVIEW
HomeSchoolReviews.com
This web site provides feedback on various homeschool curriculum.
NEED A BOOK OR CURRICULUM? BUY IT USED!!!
VegSource.com
Click on the Home Schooling link and search under the "Want to Buy" or "Want to Sell" section. Contact the seller via email.
eBay.com
Another option for purchasing used curriculum on-line.
HOMESCHOOL CATALOGS
- Rainbow Resources
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www.rainbowresource.com
Tel: 1-888-841-3456 - The Elijah Company
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www.elijaco.com
Tel: 1-888-2-ELIJAH - Timberdoodle
- (360) 426-0672
- Veritas Press
- www.VeritasPress.com
Sonlight
(303) 730-6292
Abeka
1-877-223-5226
Bob Jones
Covenant Home Curriculum
Rod and Staff
(606) 522-4348
Ideas to Share
Managers of Their Homes, by Steve and Teri Maxwell, is a practical guide to daily scheduling for Christian home school families. www.titus2.com
To subscribe to FREE monthly Dad's and Mom's Corner e-mails send a blank e-mail to corners-subscribe@titus2.com . Teri Maxwell is the mother of eight children and began homeschooling in 1985. She is a homeschool conference speaker and has been writing monthly articles of encouragement for homeschooling moms since 1990.
This is a great resource if you're homeschooling more than one child. I use this book and it was very helpful.
-Jannel
HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE?
by Jannel James
Here are some practical organizational ideas!
File Folders
For each child, organize work in 36 file folders, one for each week of the school year. This is a great way to organize for lower grades when a child is using numerous workbooks. Include all loose worksheets in folders. Add separate instructions on one piece of paper telling child what pages in art, music lessons, health, etc. are to be read or completed. If work isn't completed, transfer to the next week. At the end of the year, collect all subjects of finished work easily for teacher evaluation or for your own filing.
Plastic Crate
Give each child a plastic crate that contains all books used daily. Put it on its side and use as a portable bookshelf or if you're using hanging files, they can easily be dropped in with all the books too.
Spiral Notebooks
Label different colored spiral notebooks with each subject on front. Child can do all written work in individual notebooks. No more lost papers. Use notebooks for math practice to keep a record of work, spelling tests, grammar rules and written work, stories they've written, bible copy work, etc. These notebooks can be purchased at Meijer about 3 weeks prior to school starting for about 10 cents each. Stock up! Have child use a notebook to write down sermon notes while in church!
Date Stamper
Purchase a date stamper (like the stampers that the libraries use) and stamp daily work as you go. Children love to do this themselves.
Stickers
Have stickers nearby to put on finished work. Even if it's not a perfect paper, children love to get stickers!
If you check out more than 60 books at the library at each trip, you obviously can't carry them all, especially with little children. Purchase a luggage cart (approximately $10-$15) and store it in the trunk or closet. Use the luggage cart to transport books to and from the library. Your children will be first in line to be able to pull the cart from your car into the library.
3-Ring Notebook
Keep a 3-ring notebook with tab separators for any homeschool information you get. It's a great way to organize all your notes, receipts, book lists, curriculum information, helpful hints from other home school moms, etc.
Pencil in the Price Paid
If you purchase used or new curriculum, don't forget to pencil in the price you paid on the inside back cover of the book. When you want to sell each item, mark it at least 50% off what you paid. Homeschool books usually go for ½ off. It's impossible to remember what you paid for every book you own, so pencil it in!
- Jannel
Quick dinner ideas - after a long day of school!(All submissions welcome!)
BAKED ZITI
2 med. onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
¼ c. olive oil
56 oz. can chopped tomatoes with liquid
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
16 oz ziti pasta, cooked and drained
4 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
¼ c. grated Parmesan cheese
In a large skillet, saute onion and garlic in oil until tender. Add tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Cover; simmer for 20 minutes. Place ziti in an ungreased 11 x 7 baking dish. Cover with sauce. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with both cheeses. Bake 10 minutes longer or until cheese melts. Yield: 6-8 servings
This is a new favorite at the James' household. There isn't one noodle left! - J
BAKED OATMEAL
4 c. oatmeal
½ t. salt
½ c. butter
2 beaten eggs
1 c. brown sugar
1 ½ c. milk
2 tbs. Baking powder
2 tsp. cinnamon
Mix ingredients well. Pour into greased baking dish. Bake at 350 at 30-40 minutes or until set. Serve in bowls with warm milk poured over the oatmeal. Batter can be prepared the night before. Yield: 8-10 small servings
Just thinking of the word "oatmeal" made me think of mush. After making this Baked Oatmeal recipe, I would recommend it to everyone. It has a consistency of warm granola cereal. Sprinkle brown sugar on top and eat it up! Very tasty!