Homeschooling

Archive for October, 2007

Question: I'm thinking about starting a word/definition program?

Since I homeschool my children, I thought about a new language arts program that I could start. Here's the idea:

Each week, I come up with a word that's somewhat common (I used 'sleepy' for the first word)

Then, I find ten words that are related to the common word, but vary by degree. (For example, the word 'sleepy' could be more defined by using comatose, drowsy, hypnotic, lethargic, listless, sluggish, slumberous, somnolent, soporific, and torpid) To prevent an inaccuracy, I'll give out the definition that would be on the test.

At the end of the week, I give a test on the words. I'm not sure if I want them to define each word or place them in varying levels of degree.

Here's another example:
Common word: rain (verb)
Related words: bucket, drizzle, fall, hail, mist, pour, shower, sleet, sprinkle, storm

Any ideas about this program? I'm open for suggestions.

Answer: That is a good idea but why not just start using the words more regularly yourself? Seriously, look at the amazing amount of vocabularly that a child of 2-3 knows, how did they learn it? Did you give them a word list and ask for a test at weeks end? KWIM? They learned those words by hearing them spoken. Of course, on some of the words they'll ask, "What does that mean?" which is great because it is healthy and shows a desire to know. It may take a couple of times for them to 'get it', but thats okay. IMO, the best way to help increase a childs vocabularly is to hear those words regularly. Use the related words as much as the common words are used and soon the related words will be common.

I honestly do not believe that word lists or testing are needed,but that is just my opinion.

The Madsen Method, English for Life. "Sounds of the English Phonograms" part 2

Question: Any good Free sites for homeschool kindergarten work to print??

Hello. I am really needing some help finding some free printable work for my son who is in kindergarten.

We recently had a HUGE problem with our local public school. I won't get into the details, except to say that the school was seriously at fault. It was horrible. Rather than sit and wait for the problem to be resolved (waiting who knows how long for my son to go without any teaching or instruction) we decided to pull him out and try Homeschooling for a while. I have signed up with one company and am waiting for them to send us some books and supplies, which should take a week or two. However, until our materials arrive, I need to find something for my son to work on. I would like to find some online sites that allow me to print (free) or have access to some worksheets and activities of some sort......reading, writing, math, etc. If anyone knows of any sites or anything that could keep us busy for a few weeks, please let me know.

Thanks!

Answer: in addition to worksheets you can do some activities that are equivalent to what the other kindergarten children are learning. what I do sometimes is get my kids a notebook and have them write their name and date:( today is Saturday, January 12, 2008.) things like that then have them iether draw a picture of what ever it is your studing and if they are on a writing level then they can write something.
another thing you can do is reading and you can go to some sites and type in phonics and get some tips on phonemic reading and download some sight words for them to work on.
they also can work on money recognition.

hope some of this helps oh! and you can go to the s tore to get workbooks too!!

Jingle Bells: Recorder Lesson - Free Printable Sheet Music