Spelling Advice From the Third Grader

One of the good things about having such willful children as I do, is that they are always very clear about what they want to learn and how they want to do it. 

My third grader is the artistic one in the family.  Everything must have color or be able to have color added to it in order to be meaning full.  She loves index cards and Our Learning Cards, but has the tendency to misplace them or lose them especially when she is studying outside under Annie, our big apple tree.  This is such a shame as she has painstakingly defined and illustrated her Latin vocab or spelling words with such vibrancy and color.  But fear not, she has a solution.


Here is the spelling advice from the third grader:

"Mom, I want to make a dictionary with my spelling words."  she said. 

"Okay, that's a great idea."  I replied.  "What should it look like?"

"I want to be able to write the word out, tell what it means, and draw a picture of it.  Can you put the
alphabet across the top so I can see what letter I'm on, too?" she asked.

"Sure," I said like a waitress taking an order.  "Do you want me to bind it up like a set?" I inquired.

"Nope.  I want it to go on the clipboard, then I can take it outside and sit under Annie and work on my words.  I'll just keep it in my binder.  Thanks, mom."  she said as she ran out to swing in her fruit-filled, pomander bearing friend.

And yes, that really IS how resources are born in our home.  Sometimes it's just a very clear idea from very willful minds.

So here are the pages to our Draw it, Write it spelling dictionary.  Feel free to use them for new words the kids are learning in any subject or just keep a master collection.  It is impossible for the words to be kept in alphabetical order within each letter as we hope the children are constantly adding to their collection.  A good rule of thumb is new words or often misspelled words should be added on a weekly basis. 

I hope your kiddos find them fun and useful too.

Download our Draw it, Write it Spelling Dictionary Sheets now.

Blessings,
Kalei

What's a Homeschool Mom to Do?

So, you're in grade three and it's the first week of lessons. Mum hands you your new science book. You are excited by the cover, it looks really neat and bright. As you flip through the pages you like the opportunity for experiments, learning about space and animals, you like it all until . . . you see the all the new words you will need to learn for each chapter. Yikes!! The smile you once had now leaves your face. What's a homeschool mom to do?

This happened to me this past week - our second full week of lessons. My choices were to abandon the wonderful little catholic science book, bully or guilt my child into begrudgingly using the text, or come up with a creative solution. Since the first options weren't very viable at all, I decided to come up with a art filled solution...the Draw it, Write it Vocabulary Sheets. 

Available in four color themes, these sheets will help even your third grader bring stale vocab to life in ANY SUBJECT they are studying.  Whether it is a textbook, chapter book of sorts, or a longer read aloud, these sheets can help bring meaning and life to new words children encounter in their reading or learning.  Able to accompany up to fifteen chapters, this set allows children to write out, define and then illustrate new words they come across or need to learn. 


Each notebooking style sheet allows two words to be studied at a time and provides the chapter number, a visual numeral marker to make reference easier, plus generous line spacing and drawing area.  Print out as many pages of each chapter as necessary and bind to create a notebook.  Pages have been designed for use in a three ringed binder with enough space on either margin side to be a single side or double sided resource. 

Get our Draw It, Write It Vocabulary Sheets now.

Blessings,
Kalei

Our Lady and Astronomers

If you've ever watched the original Iron Chef series from Japan, (we love it even with subtitles,) then you know that exciting moment when the announcer says:  "The Iron Chef has four offerings today," and then we get to see what he has made.  Today I can be a bit like my favourite show and say, "Kalei has two resource offerings today!"

Shell from Thinking Love, No Twaddle has been such a busy little bee and has lots to share with us to pass on to other homeschooling families.

Our Lady

Our first offering today is a poetry lesson based on the poem, "Ballade to Our Lady of Czestochowa" by Hilaire Belloc.  This six page lesson includes the poem and additional notes on Hilaire Belloc, St. Hildagard of Bingen and Our Lady of Czestochowa.  Also included are two beautiful notebooking pages that would be beautiful to copy out the poem or write a bit about Our Lady, St. Hildagard or the author.

 Download this Little Lesson on the Ballade to Our Lady of Czestochowa from Shell's Little Lessons page now.

Astronomers

Our second resource is a Little Lesson on Father Pietro Angelo Secchi SJ, astronomer and sunspot spotter.  This is a seven page resource that highlights another Catholic scientist who lived from 1818-1878.  He made massive steps in forwarding our knowledge of the cosmos while serving as a shining example of steadfast devotion to the faith even in the eyes of political opposition to the church.  The lesson includes a packed text of info including a timeline of the author's life and accomplishments, discussion questions, notebooking sheet and a chance to have some hands-on simple, science fun.

Download this Little Lesson: Father Pietro Secchi SJ, Astronomer and Sunspot Spotter from Shell's science lesson page now.

More resources on the way tomorrow. :)

Blessings,
Kalei

A New Way to Teach About Creation

Creation is one of those topics that everybody wants to explore, but most don't want to dive into head first.  Fears of questions about dinosaurs, did we really come from slime, and how can God create out of nothing, can overwhelm anyone who is not prepared. 

So, to help you prepare to effectively and authentically to teach about creation to your children or CCD class, we have put together an F3 (Flip, Flap. Fold) Folder on Creation.  This is our first complete double folder lapbook style project.   The folder is easy to make and the printables are easy to implement in a classroom or homeschool setting.

Expect to explore the questions: What did God Create? Why did He create it? and How did He create it?  This inviting double F3 Folder focuses on teaching young Catholics about creation, introduces the Theology of the Body, ponders the uniqueness of our soul, reconfirms that we are precious to God, highlights St. Joseph, and explains the antependium.  This F3 Folder on creation includes just about everything you need except the prepared blank double folder and a Bible. An answer key is also included.

Find out more about how to make and use this resource by watching our video below.

Learn more about or download our F3 Folder to Teach About Creation now.

Feel free to drop us a comment about this or any other resource on the blog.  Your two cents worth may be just what inspires someone else.

Blessings,
Kalei