One Colourful Way to Help Inspire Reading

It is a well known fact that colour affects our mood.  Brighter colours make us feel energetic and ready to take action.  Can we apply this theory to inspiring our children to read?  Yes.

They tell us not to judge a book by its cover, but unconsciously we all do that anyway.  We naturally want to interact with vibrant visual interests when given a choice. 

Our colourful reading log can help encourage readers to keep reading all year long by inviting them to keep track of all of the titles they read.

There are three easy steps to create this project.

Simple log sheet sample

1. Prepare the Log Sheets

Select the genre sheets that you want your child to focus on in their reading this year. With almost thirty different genres to choose from, there is bound to be something for your favourite reader. You may even want to introduce a new genre to them for them to explore as well.

Older learners may enjoy using the specialized literary genre focus sheets that not only serve as a spot to log their reads, but also as a review of the particular literary genre too.

Print out our coloured sheets either one per page as a single sided version or print them out double sided for a log that looks more like a traditional book.

Feel free to print out as many sheets as required for your child's reading needs.

2. Create the Covers

Select one of our colourful reading log covers to use and mark your log.  Current colour schemes include: aqua, green, orange, rose, and yellow.  Print out one and then fill in your child's name and grade or the calendar year. 

Hint:  We suggest using heavier bond paper or cover stock for your cover.



1" 3-ringed binder with clear overlay



3. Assemble the Log

There are a few ways that you can assemble this log. 

The first way to assemble this resource is for the slightly older learner who is comfortable using ringed-folders.  For fast durable assembly that allows you to quickly add additional sheets to your log, we suggest you use a vinyl 1" 3-Hole View Binder with clear overlay.

Slip the printed cover into the front overlay.  Order your selected log pages, punch with a three hole punch and insert into binder.

The second way to assemble this log is much simpler and designed for use over a smaller period of time.  Order the cover, then log sheets, and finally a blank piece of white paper.  Gather and staple all sheets on the left hand side of the page to mimic the placement of the holes in binder paper.  You could also three hole punch the pages and put them into a duo-tang.

The last way you could easily assemble this log is by using a comb or wire binding spine.  We have used this method for years.  It is one of the most polished ways to present this resource, however, you cannot easily add additional pages to specific genres if needed.

How to Use the Log

To use the log, simply have the kiddos read their selected books or parts of a book and note down their progress and accomplishments in their log under the appropriate genre sheet.  Parents could easily note down reads for younger children by noting either pages read or reading time.  A simple check mark in the box at the right proclaims they have completed the book, if it is a chapter book or a longer read. 

This colourful project serves as a great place not only to log books read, but to serve as a proof of learning tool, if required.

Click HERE to begin creating your log now.

Blessings,

Kalei

Thank You, Friendly Timesaver.

Time. It was created for our benefit, we need more of it, and eventually we will run out of it. That doesn't sound too promising does it? But, it is.  Here's another more positive take on the same concept.

Time. A vital tool of guidance, we should use it wisely to accomplish your goals, and rest when our work is completed.

Homeschooling can make us feel like the work is never done. There are the learning tasks, household tasks, personal tasks, voluntary tasks . . . We are never really quite sure when our work is completed. We keep thinking that if we only had more time we could accomplish more.

The truth is, when we have more time, we do more work. It is rare that one of us homeschoolers says, "I have more time, I am going to doing nothing a lot longer." Once your nest begins to empty, you will notice that you have suddenly gained more time, but that's later in time, not now, for us anyway.

Some of us find that the passage of time and our tasks are more comfortable and manageable when others help us and support us.  Shell over at Thinking Love, No Twaddle blog thinks that we do that pretty well as she has given us the Thank You for the Free Stuff and Time Saving Award. 

Shell has a nifty blog that is a great time saving tool in and of itself because she offers such great links to tons of freebies.  She also is also a "Friend" of Thatresourcesite.com sharing many things that she makes for her family with my family and yours.  She is my personal friendly time saver.  :)

Thank You for the Free Stuff and Saving Time Award

To date we have never participated in any blog awards, but time saving and freebies are very special things.  So I thought that I would pass on three of my favourite freebie, time saver blogs for homeschoolers and educators.

1.  The Catholic Tool Box - Grace offers lots of freebie printables that are perfect for CCD, Rel. Ed or home catechises.  Great time saver for catechists.

2.  Jimmie's Collage  - Jimmie shares tons of freebies, especially notebooking sheets, and gives great teaching tips for those who follow the CM style.  Wonderful time saver for homeschoolers.

3. Waltzing Matilda - Charlotte has been around for years sharing her wonderful art skill with all of us with her Catholic colouring pages.  I wish that I had that kind of skill, but the Lord had other things in mind..lol.  Very beautiful time saver for Catholic families.

Thank you ladies for all the time and energy you share to make teaching the kiddos, easier for others.

Blessings,
Kalei

How Much Do You Know About Sacramentals? Our F3 Folder Lesson Will Help You Find Out

Inside of our F3 Folder on Sacramentals

 Our Flip, Flap & Fold (F3) Folder helps teach about sacramentals at home or in the CCD or religion classroom.

What do a plastic rosary, a stone church, a fifteen foot tall wooden crucifix, and a tiny paper prayer card all have in common?  If you guessed that they are all sacramentals, then you are absolutely correct. 

If you aren't too familiar with sacramentals in general or you are not sure about their purposefulness and importance, then you definitely won't want to miss today's special resource that teaches about the sacramentals used in the Catholic church.

Outside of our F3 Folder on Sacramentals

Today's resource is our first ever full F3 Folder.  If you are intrigued by lapbooking, but put off by what appears to be lots of prep and effort, then our F3 resources are probably right up your alley.  They are smaller, self-contained lessons with paper pieces inspired by my friend, Shell, of Thinking Love, No Twaddle blog, who makes and shares with us lovely little lessons that contain everything you need to effectively deliver them to your kiddos.  This keeps the learning focus on the lesson and concepts and not so much the prepping and making of the project pieces.

And if you have ever wanted to incorporate file folder projects into a classroom or group setting, say your CCD class or religious education co-op lessons, but just weren't sure how, then you'll definitely want to download today's free resource.

To show you just how easy it is to use this five page printable resource, watch our short video that explains how to create and use this fun and very do-able resource in your little homeschool or classroom.

Click HERE to download our first full F3 Folder to teach about Sacramentals.
Click HERE to see how to prepare a Single F3 Folder to use with today's resource.

We hope you find this resource very useful and fun to use.  We hope to share more F3 Folder lessons if we find families really enjoy using them.

Blessings,
Kalei - That Resource Team

Meaningful Colouring for Tweens? Yes!

Fun-filled colouring pages created with tweens and beyond in mind.

Tired of the same old cartoon pictures for coloring? Want something spiritually uplifting or challenging for your bit older kiddos? Then have we got goodies for you.

Colouring books have been around since the late 1800s. Once referred to as paint books, these little books were used to help children learn concepts of art and improve their cognition. I have found, however, that we have never finished a colouring book and my children (and perhaps yours as well) like to pick and choose only the pages that they want to colour and eventually end up tossing an unfinished book to the recycle bin. So here's how we combat that dilemma - single colouring sheets that reinforce our learning lessons.  It's double duty art fun.

Whether they are colouring pages that reiterate Aesop's morals, encourage practicing writing and pronouncing the names of favourite dinos, or are so engaging that they help them understand and memorize the Stations of the Cross - our sheets do double duty. But I bet you aren't surprised to hear that are you? We are all about the fun in learning, but also about preserving our precious time as well.

Visit our revamped colouring pages to see our collection of art sheets highlighting Mother Mary, the Stations of the Cross, Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Rosary, and more.  Using classic public domain images, our pages offer challenging fun for tweens and older learners who can once again relax and enjoy colouring.  We suggest using good quality coloured pencils or fine tipped felts.  My tweenie loves to use Paper Mate Flair Point-Guard Porous Point Pens, 12 Colored Pens. She used those to colour the picture above.

Please note that since we use public domain images for many of our resources, we are limited in our selection.  Some mysteries of the rosary were not available, but we are always on the lookout. :)

I'll also put out there that we are always looking for more artwork for the kiddos.  So if you have any art skills or a passion for creating colouring sheets we would love to help you share your work with others and give you full credit.  We could even create a Friends page for you to highlight your work or help point others to your blog or website.  Contact us if you are an artist who would like to help out other homeschooling families or educators around the globe.

Click HERE to visit our revamped Colouring pages now.

Plus, keep watching for our set of colouring pages that are specifically designed for religious education and my CCD classes. Join us on Facebook to get it as soon as it is uploaded.

Blessings,
Kalei - That Resource Team