Making Spelling Resources

Sometimes it's nice to make your own resources.  That way you may get what you want faster, or cheaper, or both.  Oh, and have the satisfaction that comes from you putting it together yourself.  :o) 

This idea was sparked from seeing a neat and handy spelling tool on a commercial spelling website.   I thought to myself, I understand what they are trying to do with that{ I have never seen the product in real life but I got the gist of it just by seeing parts of it }, so why don't I just make my own little version of it?  

Here's how I've teamed up my sounds with the colors:

White for consonants and short vowels.
Red for long vowels.
Light green for multiple phonograms.
Dark green for suffixes.
Blue for my *h digraphs.
Purple for prefixes.

I'm still tweaking the idea - because even though I understand the basic idea, I need to make sure that I get all the pieces right so that it works. I'm also going to add some big dots too - so we can use them as dividers for syllabification.

I think visually seeing the spelling words in their colors will totally enhance their understanding of HOW the word is put together.

I keep all the unused cards here:

Have I left anything out that should be in?   

Project Blackboard

I was busy surfing some blogs the other day, as you do,  when I came upon a project done by another homeschooling mum.   Sometimes you find things that are just the most perfect little projects for your own home.  As soon as I saw it I just KNEW that I would do it too.

I took the two middle glass panes out of my kitchenette so that I could replace them with home made blackboards.

The great part about this project is how quick and easy it was.

I got hubby to cut me down two pieces of wood that would fit.  Then I painted them with black chalkboard paint.  

This morning I put them in the frames and wrote our first verses on them.     

Oh, and if you've been blog hopping like me you'll see another little project idea sitting on the bottom right hand side as well.   LOL

AND tomorrow I will have ANOTHER project idea to share as well.  That one involves a colored printer, a laminator, and some magnets.

Thanks for visiting.

Art - Roosters and Elephants

We did Art twice this week~!!

First up, we tried an oil pastel drawing / coloring of a rooster.

The example and instructions are on the left.  My example for the girls on the right.

At first I wasn't so sure about the oil pastel thing, but I really like how it came out in the end.

* * * * * * *

 We also did a poster sized painting of an elephant.

I discovered that I could print poster sized pictures on hubby's laptop.  So.........

I went and got me a piece of clipart.  Put it in word.  Turned it into a pdf.  Then I sent it to print 8 x A4.

After that I taped it together.  Added a sun, clouds, and ground.  Then it was ready for the girls to paint.

And voila~!!

 I think that the photo doesn't really show how big it is in real life.  It was definitely a two child job.   I hope we can do some more poster sized pictures soon.  

Thanks for visiting.

 

Hymns for School

Join us this week as we learn this hymn.

Spelling Resources

For years I've visited Don Potters Spelling webpage to pick up the odd book or two, or three. 

So today I thought I'd share his link here for you.

Don Potter

He really does have a wealth of information there.  When you go you'll need a couple of hours at the very least when you visit.  You'll be downloading a lot of FREE books.

Thanks for visiting.

Fruit of the Spirit - Love

Today I'm going to totally jump ship and encourage you with something different.

LOVE

Yes, sounds novel, doesn't it?

It will be novel - I assure you.  None of this worldly stuff.  None of the pagan stuff either.  No commercialism to boot.  

Just the pure scripture from the God of Love Himself.

This week I want you to:

1.  Love God

Psalm 18:1

I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.

It's not enough that we confess it.  Really show God that you mean it.  This week do something that proves your love for God.  Pray, spend time in the scriptures.  Repent of known sins.

* * * * * * *

2.  Love Your Neighbour

Matthew 22:39 

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Do something for a neighbour.  Either send a hand written note or a gift, do something nice for them.  Let them know that you value them.

* * * * * * *

3.  Love Your Enemies

Romans 12:20

Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

Think of a person that you have a problem with today, and go and give that person a gift.  Or do something nice for them.  Pray a very specific prayer for them, blessing them.   Actively BREAK that hatred and bondage with your obedience to the scriptures.

* * * * * * *

4.  Love a Stranger

Matthew 25:35

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Is there anywhere you can go that you can find someone that you do NOT know and do a kindness for them?  A stranger at work?  A stranger at church?  

* * * * * * *

5.  Love Your Spouse

Titus 2:4

That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Show your spouse that you love them.  Make their favorite meal.  Do something special just for them, even if it is just a 2 mins hug to let them know that they are loved.

* * * * * * *

6.  Love Your Children

Matthew 3:17

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Just as the Father affirmed his love for his Son, let us also verbly affirm the love we have for our children.  Show your child that you love them.

* * * * * * *

Oh, a couple of final rules:

NO chocolates allowed.

NO flowers allowed.

NO cards with pretty hearts allowed either.

You'll have to get creative and prayerful.

Ready, Set, Go~!!

I've been busy reading:  Fruitful Families { that's where this list and most of the scriptures come from }.

Week 6

The weeks just wizz by don't they?

This week we continued with phonogram work for Phebe.

Phebe asked me for some extra "fun" school work, so I gave her this to do.

Phebe finished her LA 105 book.  I almost cried when she forgot when to use oi / oy.  She lost a lot of marks for things I was hoping that she had thoroughly learnt and would remember.

Chloe continued to learn more about paragraphs and outlining.  This week she looked at parallel construction.  And all this work on paragraphs / outlines is really starting to pay off BIG time.  I have noticed that when she is required to write a paragraph now that it is coming much EASIER. I have also noticed her attitude to it has improved immensely as well.  I guess having a skill gives not only the ability to do something but also the confidence too.

 

For History this week we marched right on through SOTW III - Chapter 9.

The girls used the coloring page from the companion guide to trace a picture to go with their copywork.

 I had to laugh when I saw Phebes eye.

Hannah cheered me up with this:

Can you believe that my 3 year old has done 3 workbooks from this course already?  She sounds out words so well.  I am always delighted when hearing her work out the words.

Last but not least, Little Miss discovered the keyboard and has been having a heap of fun with it.  In fact ALL the children have been having turns at making "noise".

Now that we've done our first 6 weeks of school it's time to have a couple of weeks off.  So that's what we'll be doing over the next fortnight.  I'll still be blogging though.  I might miss a couple of days, with family visiting and all, but I'll still try to find some things to chat about.  :o)

This week I'm linking up with:

 

and



and 

 

I hope you will join us.


Thanks for visiting.