Peggy Kaye Writing Book Review

I finally got this book from the library yesterday and I really like it.  This lady has some really nice ideas that I’m excited to try out with the children so they can get started on their writing skills.  I found her website where I believe there are sample pages for you to check out if interested. 

http://www.peggykaye.com/target.php?ct=welcome

I’m reading the Games For Writing but I also have The Math and Reading ones too.  I’m going to have to check out the other ones here next time.  All I can say is lots of great ideas.  Masha Allah.

Multiplication Struggles

For the past 3 weeks I have been struggling with teaching ds his 3 and 4 times tables.  I remember as a kid mom made me memorize skip counting all the rows up to 12 so this helped me until I memorized the equations.  My son however was really struggling so I watched this little video and tried it today and so far it has really helped his little sis is joining in on it also.  So I’m sharing just incase it can help someone else  Insha Allah.

It’s a video from Math Mammoth.  I’ve heard of them just haven’t used any of their products.  http://www.mathmammoth.com/multiplication_1.php

Workboxes 1 week so far

Wow I have to say so far this method is helping us.  We are still ironing out a few wrinkles but we have accomplished a lot in a week.  A lot more than we have in a while since being pregnant last year.  Now I am not being anal about it we don’t get everything done that is in the folders nor do I fill all 12 for the kids we probably get about 8 filled maybe that will change as they get older.  Anyways I think it has helped a lot in the fact that they don’t have to wait for me to do some work.  There is always something for them to do.   The only dilemma I have now is entertaining my 1-year-old.

I’ve joined this group and there is lot’s of great advice and links.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/workboxes/

 

Workboxes Craze

Ok I’ve been researching this whole workbox craze and have decided to give it a try.  I just started today so we will see if it actually sticks for us, as everything is so disorganized for us right now.  Our house isn’t finished so we are currently doing school in my bedroom.  So it’s me, L, K, and Z 1year old now and in 2 months we will have another baby insha Allah so I’m just waiting to see what things will be like then. (Sigh)  

Anyways due to lack of space we are using hanging folders in crates.  I will keep you posted on how it works also Insha Allah.  Below are a list of sites that I have been checking out on the topic.

The first one is where I first heard about it all…

http://ummihomeschoolsme.wordpress.com/

http://docs.google.com/View?docID=dwstdgn_447mphsmf8&revision=_latest

http://heartofwisdom.com/blog/workbox-directory/

http://forum.homeschoolshare.com/viewforum.php?f=19

SparkleBox Key Stage 2 – Fantastic FREE KS2 teaching resources to download and print

SparkleBox Key Stage 2 – Fantastic FREE KS2 teaching resources to download and print.

Luqman’s Artwork in Paint Program

My 8 yr olds artwork he spent a good amount of time on them so I had to put them up.

 

 

 

 

 

Arabic Games

Today me and the little ones played a couple of games with a deck of Arabic cards I made to go with our studies of the Medina program.  Since I had no printer ink I pretty much had to draw them myself (atleast they are recognizable) Anyways I wrote in Arabic and transliteration on the leftside and drew the pictures on the right with their names under them (just incase they couldn’t tell what it was LOL!)  Then I cut them in half and passed out the pictures to the kids and asked questions so it went something like this:

T: Ayna najmoon?

S: (finds the picture of star and says) Hadha Najmoon.

Then if it took them awhile to find it I might reinforce by asking after they give me the picture  Ma Hadha?  Then they would answer again Hadha Najmoon.

Then we played a game that I got the idea from this site ; http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/foreignlanguages/contents.htm

Called find the object;

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/foreignlanguages/findtheobject.htm

We hid the picture cards and followed the directions.  We had so much fun.  Masha Allah

Hands on Measuring

The other day my son pulled out a pot and some measuring cups. He filled the pot with water and began to compare measurements.  I asked him questions like; “how many 1/8 cups does it take to fill a 1/4 cup, and so on.  He would guess then fill.”  Before hand I also explained that the bottom number of the measurements (ex. 1/8) tells how many it would take to fill 1 cup.  Then I would ask things like  how many 1/3 cup will it take to fill 1 cup?I think we will have to try measuring spoons next.  He had a lot of fun and that is what is important.

 

 

 

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Learning Game Websites

They are ESL sites but they can still be used for grammar games and whatever you  can imagine.

Daves Esl Cafe

 

Teach English in Asia

 

ESL Flow.com

 

MES-English

 

Three Wise Monkeys

 

Games and Activities

Math Sites

http://www.mathebook.net/

http://mathematics.hellam.net/