Start with a Book!

 Are you familiar with Start with a Book?  The idea is to combine fiction and nonfiction books with lessons—something you probably do already.  The site has loads and loads of activity kits.  I love to add a book to any outreach program.  For example, I have an activity kit for this Handwashing Lesson.  Include Germs Make Me Sick.  Be sure to explain to Littles that the germs are fake so no one cries.  Ask me how I know.  One tip if you use Glo Germ lotion and the hand-washing lesson, check the nail beds; kiddos never wash their nail beds well.  What books can you combine with lessons?  I mean, you can do so much history with American Girl Doll books.  You might want to browse the library stacks for lesson inspirations.  Have a blast!

Simplify life with a theme for gifts!

 I like a theme!  Have you considered finding a theme for your gifts?  My kiddos receive books as presents.  None of us are adverse to a stack of books—even used books!  I keep a stack of paper, pop-up, flower cards.  They are perfect for someone in the hospital or a friend’s birthday.  It’s still a card; it doesn’t create  a sense of obligation—just a sweet message!  

My go-to high school graduation present is an electric kettle and as case of ramen noodles.  Really.  I pick up kettles whenever I can find them for less than $16.  I don’t want students to starve.  Teens think the gift is hysterical. 

Please stand by!

 Sorry!  June and July mean Science Camp, VBS, home-school portfolio reviews (ten) and two weeks of Faith Camp—kiddos who are behind in the sacraments.  While I have been inspired to adjust Faith Camp, I’m blanking on tips for home-school families.  I’ll post soon!  Please stand by!

Evan-Moor

  One resource I recommend all the time is Evan-Moor.  The workbooks are ideal for summer practice.  I like the Geography practice as enrichment in the elementary grades.  You can do an exercise each day or polish off a week’s worth of activities in under an hour.  Look at Grade 5 Geography, as an example.  Another suggestion is Summer Bridge activity books.  You can use these as supplement those days when you just need emergency lessons.  Consider used copies—many are like new.  These workbooks won’t replace a core curriculum; they do provide a good supplement.

Instant Lessons: Let’s write reports about inventions!

Let’s go old-school and reinstate reports.  Kiddos used to read an article and handwrite a report. Reports are a great safety net.  Read a book and write a report.  Done.  Reports are perfect assignments for the week of chaos when you had a trip to the ER, the washer broke down, and the dog was sick. 

 Pick any topic.  I teach science and am interested in inventions.  (Don’t you wish you had invented wheels on luggage?)   If you subscribe to the Wall Street Journal, look for Ben Cohen’s Science of Success articles.  (He wrote about white lines on the roads in the July 3rd issue.). Print a few articles to assign during family emergencies. 

Take BYJU’s Quiz, Ten Famous Inventions and Inventors Kids Must Know to get started with a list to research at the library or on Britannica.

ACS Chemical Landmarks: Crest, Scotch Tape (Booklet), Bakelite (Booklet), and  Test Strips (Booklet) are all examples.  Food Dehydration (Booklet) can lead to Snack Engineering.

Smithsonian has Invention Stories, such as epi-pens, George Forman’s grill, brewing coffee, and more about chips.  Invention at Play has a ton of short inventors’ stories, such as Ann Moore’s Snugli.

Lemelson-MIT has an Inventor Archive with Mary Anderson’s Windshield Wipers, Marconi’s telegraph, , and Mars M&Ms.

Dave Ramsey Financial Peace

 Have you considered Dave Ramsey’s Home School Personal Finance?  You may want to buy the 2012 version.  My friend, Christine, and my husband, Rob, teach a personal finance course and include Dave Ramsay’s program.  They are examining just the books and workbooks because the costs of the digital versions have risen sharply.  (BTW we use and reuse older textbooks all the time!)  Many, many families have their teens read one of Dave Ramsey’s books, attend a course (often held at a local church), or use a home study course.  Rob and Christine want the teens to use a workbook and take quizzes to hold them accountable for the material.  The used kits have DVD lessons.  Some teens prefer to watch and video and answer questions.  You do you!

Patriotic Art Projects!

 The 4th of July is right around the corner.  Let’s celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary in style!  Do an elective art project!  Add this fun, summer project to your digital portfolio.Make 4th of July Agamographs! Here and here are more.  4th of July Pointilism dovetails well with this Art of Patriotism unit.  10 Easy Crafts includes spin painting.  Finally, 30 Patriotic Crafts should give you enough ideas to finish your art unit.