Free Interactive Storybooks

Emergent readers as well as toddlers can enjoy these interactive stories online. There are different age groups available, ranging from 1-8. Three different series available, with each series containing numerous episodes. You get the first 2 free and add them to your library, where they can be viewed anytime you want. Have the grandbabies over? Login, and let them read a story. Trying to get your younger child interested in reading? They will love these books. If you share on Facebook, Twitter, etc., you get another free book for every person that joins and gets their 2 free books! I have my shelf started, including the book pictured above. My daughter is 9, but these make great free time activities for even older children. I suggest you check out this site and start your library today! The link is below, and all you have to do is click the link, and pick your first 2 books FREE!!
http://www.storytimeforme.com/2books/CR5A05123/RAF2FB1L

Safe Surfing

          I created this page for my daughters homepage. I added tons of educational sites, along with a few of her not so educational favorites. All are safe and I set windows to only allow her to go to sites that I put on the allowed list, so no clicking on ads or banners from the allowed sites. I can actually let her surf without standing guard. Very easily made and allows peace of mind. Try your own! If anyone needs help setting it up, I will be glad to help. Check out my daughters homepage for ideas
angelaowenshomepage.blogspot.com

Proof of Santa!

 Do your children still believe in Santa? If so, keep them believing and if not, surprise them with this proof!
This is our Christmas tree in the photo above.....with Santa!  icaughtsanta.com lets you upload your own photo, then add in Santa. There are quite a few poses to choose from and if you like, you can also purchase
a video. They also have more figures, such as the Easter Bunny!  My readers can enjoy a 25% discount by using the code:  SANTA-2010
5 of my readers can also win a FREE photo by sharing this on Facebook or your blog, then leave me a comment with a link to your post.(note: to post comment, you must follow my blog at the top left)  Merry CHRISTmas to all of you!!
I will announce the winners Monday (Contest has been extended due to lack of entries. Anyone interested may enter until December 26th)at 11:59pm, and if you are a winner,I will send you a private message with the code. Until then, check out icaughtsanta.com, and look at all the poses and options.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Teach with Games

            I recently had the pleasure of trying out a new game that helps children memorize their multiplication tables. You can get them in different multiples, such as, the 2's timetable and the 3's timetable. You play in the style of the classical Old Maid card game that most of us grew up playing.  Getting the kids involved in a card game makes it easy for them to remember the facts. All children love games, and these are great tools to help them memorize the facts easily. And at only $.99 a game, they are very affordable. You just print off what you need (card stock or laminated after printing is best), cut out the cards, and you are ready to play. Come with complete instructions of game play.


Find them at http://teachwithgames.com/

Snow Day

   Snow got your children stuck inside?  Need something fun and educational to keep them busy? Scholastic has lots great ideas. Educational games, crafts, etc. So cozy up together with your child and have a little winter fun!
Snow + Fun = Learning! Scholastic.com

Proud Mommy

My daughter, who is nine, recently had areading assessment and apparently she is reading at a seventh grade level. I can't tell you how proud this makes me, not only as a Mom, but as a homeschooling Mom. It feels so wonderful to know that all our hard work is paying off. Keep up the great work Moms. We are doing a great thing for our children.

Interview Grandparents

A good activity for kids is to interview Grandparents. For writing, have them write a report afterward. They can also create a lapbook using the information that they collect. They will learn about the past, which is a good social studies lesson. Plus they may learn alot about you when you were younger...and what kid doesn't like that? I have included a link to 50 questions for kids to ask during the interview below.
http://genealogy.about.com/cs/oralhistory/a/interview.htm

Amazon.com

Amazon has a huge selection of homeschool books, and software. Type in what you specifically need, (such as "3rd grade chapter books", and you are sure to find what you are looking for, for under $5.00, usually.

Check out Netflix. There are lots of educational movies such as National Geographic, History channel, etc. We have a roku player (which you can purchase from Netflix for around 70.00) so we can watch them on our tv, but anyone can watch online. Very good for the price!  Instantly watch  movies on your PC, Mac, or right on your TV via an Internet connected Netflix ready device. One month free trial and only 8.99 a month for instant movies.
.http://www.netflix.com/

First Grade Home School Reading Lessons : Handmade Books for Home Schooling

Homeschooling Resources

In my homeschooling, I have found wonderful websites that offer free worksheets, educational games, planners, gradebooks, ebooks, charts, and even free dvds. I am listing some of these here for other homeschooling families to enjoy. Most have PDF formats so that you can download and save to your Pc. File them all as you see fit and when studying a subject, such as multiplying, just go to your math folder and then to multiplication and print the ones you need. This is very handy for storage. Hope you all enjoy this blog and I wish you blessings in your homeschooling adventures.

Lapbooking

Me and my daughter recently started lapbooking and we love it. She learns all about a given subject, and then gets to make her own book about it. She doesn't even realize that she is doing "school". There are so many sites that offer help with lapbooks, but my favorite is
homeschoolshare.com
They offer dozens of free lapbook templates. Making your own book about a subject after studying it helps the child retain the knowledge.