Books on CD are grand!

I have terrible TMJ, and often when I am reading to the children, my jaw begins to hurt. Most of the time I just ignore the pain because I find so much joy in reading alound to Marcus and Lella. Recently, the children and I have been listening to some of their favorite books on CD (We are almost finished listening to Island of the Blue Dolphin).

I simply check out two actual books from the library and one sound recording. We sit on the couch and read along with the CD. The kids LOVE hearing other voices read to them and because they are also reading along, they are able to incorporate two learning styles in this activity. This is especially important for my daughter who is a kinesthetic learner.

We are about to embark on Freddy the Detective by Walter Brooks. Should be fun!

Firework Art

It is July 20 and Independence Day was a couple of weeks ago, but we, nevertheless, embarked on an Independence Day project. My daughter insisted we do this project after reading about Independence Day and seeing the project online.

Simply dilute paint with water, drip the paint on a piece of paper, and blow the paint drip with a straw.

The kids LOVED making fireworks of their own and even made sound effects! Enjoy!

The Velveteen Rabbit

The Velveteen Rabbit

A dear friend of mine gave Marcus and Gabriella this classic tale and suggested that as I read the story, to let the kids make their own illustrations. They enjoyed this activity so much that they made a front and back cover to their pictures! What you see here is their interpretation of the little boy playing with the Velveteen Rabbit in the garden. Gabriella's picture is on the left and Marcus' is on the right.

Clay Art

I am always looking for art projects my children can work on independently. There are times when I need to focus on teaching one child a particular concept, practice piano, cook a meal, etc..., and I need an activity to occupy little hands.

I bought some molding clay in different colors last year and found it recently as I was cleaning out the art drawer. My daughter molded various animals for almost an hour and enjoyed every minute! She now requests to mold clay and chooses a different theme each time.

If you don't want to purchase molding clay, you can always make your own!

Recipe: 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup water - Mix well until it forms a ball and knead in food coloring. If your play-doh is too sticky, add more flour. If it is too dry, add more water. Enjoy!

The Puppy Place (book series)

My husband is in the process of selling books our children read last year in order to by new ones for this year and I was reminded of this sweet series of books by Ellen Miles called The Puppy Place. If your children love puppies and are just starting to read chapter books, then I highly recommend this series.

The first book in the series is called Goldie:

Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. They want a puppy of their own more than just about anything. They know dogs are a lot of work, but their mom still doesn't think their family is ready for a puppy. Then, Goldie arrives. She is a sweet golden retriever that needs a home. Goldie is very young and she doesn't know how to be a good puppy yet. Will Charles and Lizzie be able to help her?

Mary Pope Osborne - The Odyssey

If your children loved reading the Magic Tree House series, they will equally love Osborne's series called Tales From The Odyssey. My children enjoyed reading these books (they are 6 and 7) and we plan on reading them again this year!

In these books based on episodes from Homer's Odyssey, Osborne brings to life the exciting adventures of one of the greatest heroes of all time...

The Odyssey

Op-Ed Columnist - The Best Kids Books Ever

In the opinion of the New York Times columnist, Mr. Kristof, these are the best children's books ever. I wouldn't say I necessarily agree with all of his choices; nevertheless, the article is an interesting read. Enjoy!

Best Children's Books Ever

Curriculum 2009 - 2010

MHR:

• Math: Horizons Level 3
• Grammar: First Language Lessons, Level 3, and Easy Grammar Level 3
  
• Writing: Writing With Ease, Level 3
• History: The Story of the World, Volume 1
  
• Literature: Recommended Reading in History
  
• Science: Real Science 4 Kids, Biology
• Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears Cursive
• Spelling: Spelling Power by Beverly Adams Gordon
  
• Logic: Primarily Logic

GJR:

• Math: Horizons Level 2
• Grammar: First Language Lessons, Level 3, and Easy Grammar, Level 3
  
• Writing: Writing With Ease, Level 3
• History: The Story of the World, Volume 1
• Literature: Recommended Reading in History
• Science: Real Science 4 Kids, Biology
• Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears
• Spelling: Spelling Power by Beverly Adams Gordon
• Logic: Primarily Logic