My 6 year old is so excited to read. With my oldest, I never really made a big deal about sight words. At 8 years old, his spelling might not be the best, but he learned all the standard sight words just through reading. I don't think there's anything wrong with using this "organic exposure ...
Free Printable
Multiplication Star Charts
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!I know that there can be pitfalls with using star charts. However, I can’t help but feel that they deserve a place in my parenting toolbox. After all, even though they have a bad rap, bribes can be really effective in the moment. Do I care if my son never chooses to study his multiplication facts on ...
Gratitude Journal for Kids
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!When it comes to being a parent, above all, I want to raise good people. Sometimes, between all the sibling bickering and potty words, I wonder if I'm AT ALL doing a decent job. I made this gratitude journal for kids as a way to hopefully improve my own kids' attitudes and build their character. ...
Low Floor High Ceiling Math Problems
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!Last spring, when I said I wanted to teach a math class to kids between the ages of 9 and 14 at our local homeschool co-op, people looked at me like I was crazy. "You can't teach the same math to a 9 and 14 year old." "Their ability levels vary too greatly to do math in a co-op setting." That's what ...
Generic Game Board
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!Have you ever thought, "If I could just turn this into a GAME, my kid would learn it no problem." Kids are like that, aren't they? Ask them to clean their rooms and they'll fall on the floor at the injustice of it all. Turn it into a game and they'll be transformed into little cleaning machines. ...
United States Quarter Collection
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!I made this United States quarter collection board so my 7 year old could collect the coins from all 50 states. Since he spent the past year learning United States geography, I thought it would be a fun and educational summer activity for him. However, it's my 5 year old daughter who has really ...
Interactive Multiplication Cards
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!Recently, I had the brilliant idea that I was going to make my 7 year old some multiplication flashcards. He started learning his times tables recently in the adaptive online math program he uses. (Review to come...I like it, but haven't decided how much.) However, about 3 colorful homemade cards ...
Origami Flapping Bird
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!When I was in 4th grade, I got a chance to fly across the continental United States. The only reason I didn't go out of my mind with boredom during that nearly 6 hour flight was that my aunt taught me how to make this origami flapping bird on the plane. I probably made nearly 100 birds during that ...
United States of America Toothpick Map
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!Geography is not my strong suit. I am determined, however, that the same will not be true for my kids. I'm going to do what I can to ensure that they don't have to live their lives in quiet embarrassment, hoping that no one ever asks them to point out Delaware on a map. This homemade United States ...
DIY Number Strip Puzzles
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!I first learned about number strip puzzles from the website 3 Dinosaurs. I LOVE all the free educational material on that site, especially for the preschool age group. My 5 year old daughter in particular is currently pretty passionate about these number "puzzles." She has a dream of combining all ...