Nature Study

If you are wanting to get outside with your learning this Spring, check out the following links for ways to incorporate it into your home schooling.

Handbook of Nature Study

Charlotte Mason's Nature Study

Blessings,
Erin

February Fun!

If you are looking for some fresh ideas for February, here are some links to help:

ABC Teach - Valentine's Day - Printable activities such as Reading Comprehension and Writing activities
Enchanted Learning - Valentine's Day - Printable cards
Art Projects for Kids - Valentine's Heart Painting - This site has awesome art projects to try!!!
The Crafty Crow - Valentine's Owl Craft - Fun site I just discovered.

Valentine's Day is a great time to focus on learning about friendship and what it means to be a good friend. Take some time as a family to look up what the Bible says about friendship. Below is a website to help you start this learning.

Grace Parenting - Bible Verses about Friendship for Kids

Catch your children in the act of being kind to others and let them know that you noticed. :) You could even come up with some random acts of kindness to do for someone in your family or neighbourhood.

Happy February!
Mrs. Siebring

Quick Learning Checks

 A fast and effective way to ensure that your child is understanding what he/she is learning about is to do a quick check at the end of a lesson.  It is important to know when your child is understanding a topic and when he/she may need further time spent on a topic.  This can sometimes be difficult to tell, especially if your child is working independently for most of the school day.

Checking your child's understanding on a daily or weekly basis is a great way to know that learning is happening and also a quick assessment tool that you can use to send me in a weekly communication.

Here's an idea for a quick check (5 minute assessment tool at the end of a lesson):

• Look at the topic your child is learning about - ex. more or less than

• Choose 2 content questions about the topic; these questions should take only a minute or two to answer - 

                 ex. Circle the correct symbol:   23 <   >  32
                 ex. Choose which number is greater and then draw that many circles:  12    20

• Choose 1 reflective question (these are general and can be used for almost any topic or subject):

                 ex. What did you do well today?

• Have your child answer the questions in oral or written format.  Send your assessment in to me as your weekly communication! 

Examples of “reflective” questions

1. What did you do well today?

2. What is one thing you learned today?

3. What do you know about fractions(or any topic or concept) that you did not know before today?

4. What is your goal for your work tomorrow?

5. Identify something you learned today about math (or other subject) or about yourself as a learner of math (or other subject).


Good questioning skills promotes better learning!  Throughout the year, I will attach "Question shells" to my newsletters or blog.  "Question shells" are broad questions that can be used for most topics and will extend your child's learning about a topic.  I encourage you to try them out as you work with your children at home.  :)


HAPPY LEARNING!

Thanksgiving Activities

I have compiled a list of websites to visit if you're looking for some THANKSGIVING activities to do with your child:

Bible Study

Printables

Book List

Recipes for Kids

Thanksgiving Table Games

Drawing Pumpkins - Art Project (Gr. 4)

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ~

Fall Bucket List

One of the joys of homeschooling is the time that you get to spend together as a family.  As an online teacher, I also have the privilege to stay home with my children, watch them grow each day, and give them time, which is a precious commodity these days.  When my sister sent me a link to a "Fall Bucket List", I was excited about all of the fun family activities on the list and the chance to make memories with my children.  Many of you are probably already doing these activities each fall but I would like to share them anyways because there is a lot of learning that can be built into these activities. :)

• Apple Picking
• Make Leaf Art
• Go on a Hay Ride
• Enjoy a Bonfire with S'mores
• Make Caramel Apples
• Visit a Corn Maze
• Go to a Pumpkin Patch
• Make Fall Cookies
• Take a nature walk (bring the camera)
• Bake pies

Here are some ways to extend the learning:  

• Learn about harvest time, talk about what it must have been like during pioneer times and how important it was to save food for the winter months.  
• Take pictures of your leaf art and make other fall art projects to submit at portfolio time.  Try to use a variety of materials to create art (paper, paint, leaves, chalk, etc)
• While cooking, practice math as you see measurement in action.
• Create a map of the corn maze (very tricky), then try to reconstruct it at home with blocks.  
• Make a list of all the things you can do with a pumpkin, try at least two of the things on your list. 
• Draw the progression of apple growth. (ie. seed, tree, etc)
• Make apple prints (cut apples in half, dip them in paint, then stamp them on paper).  Have your child create a pattern using different colours of paint.

If you participate in any of these activities, please let me know or better yet, take pictures!  I would love to get to know your family better this year.  

Blessings!

Father's Day Ideas

If you are looking for some way to let your Dad know how special he is to you, try some of these ideas:


1. Make a card telling your dad why you love him.  Try to think of at least 3 things that he does that you are thankful for. 
2. Give your dad a coupon for a chore that you will do for him in the coming week.
3. Write your dad an acrostic poem.  For example, write DAD or your dad's name down the side of a page, then think of a word or sentence to go with each letter that describes something special about your dad.  Decorate the page with illustrated pictures or a collage of pictures of you and your dad.
D - Dependable
A - 
D - 
4. Check out the following links for activities, crafts, or printable cards for Father's Day:
Disney Family Fun

Father's Day Crafts or Gifts


Psalm 103:13 
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

Taking Care of the Environment

With Earth Day being recognized this month, it is a great time to teach your children about taking care of their environment.  We are called to be good stewards of all that God has provided us with; one of these things is the world around us, the beauty of creation.

Activities to try as a family:

Garbage Walk - Go for a walk as a family, wear gloves, bring a garbage bag and pick up any trash that you encounter on your walk.

Recycling - Have your child participate in recycling at home or visit a recycling depot to see what can be recycled.

Make a recycled craft - Use only materials that have been used to create something.  Take a picture of the project.

Talk about ways to save water, electricity, and other items that are commonly wasted.  Try picking a place that your family might normally drive to and choose to walk or bike instead.  Keep track on a Calendar of the ways that your child cut back on consumption. 

Make a worm compost.

* Make sure that you let me know about any ways that your child takes care of the environment. :)