Kentucky Homeschool - Resources for homeschooling in Kentucky including lesson plans & ide

World Book Student Activities

2009-10-09T13:12:00.000-04:00

As a homeschool family, I know that children learn at their own pace. However, I know some like to follow a basic guideline for their children's lessons so I wanted to share this for those that haven't came across it yet.

World Book Encyclopedia and Learning Resources has a selection of free resources that could be very useful to use. There is a list for Typical Courses of Study to learn what subjects are taught at different grade levels, Trivia Quizes, a Cyber Camp (best for ages 4 - 8 or so) and much more.

Subway's Random Acts of Fitness for Kids

2009-10-09T12:57:00.002-04:00

Subway's Free 2009-2010 Teacher's Kit for Random Acts of Fitness for Kids is available for order, including homeschools. The kit contains tools for fitness and nutrition education that includes a poster, stickers, planner and more.

While you're there, don't forget to check out the In The Classroom and Healthy at Home sections for more educational fitness and nutrition activities.

Homemade Craft Supplies

2009-09-16T11:17:00.007-04:00

My children have many allergies. Making homemade crafts & cleaning supplies are one way I can control what they come in contact with. Here are a few 'recipes' for craft supplies today. And tomorrow, I'll follow up with a list for household cleaners.

Glitter

Supplies:
1c salt
ziploc bag
food coloring
cookie sheet

Instructions:
Seperate salt into piles, and mix each pile with food coloring in a ziploc bag. Spread salt our on a cookie sheet and let dry. Store extra glitter in a tupperware container. Best of all glitter made fr
om salt can’t cut your eyes like regular store bought glitter.

Modeling Clay

Supplies:
1c. salt
2c. flour
1c. water
food coloring to tint

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients together for about 5 minutes and then it is ready to use. To keep the clay from drying out you can store it in tuperware containers.

Chalk

Supplies:
1/2 c. plaster of paris
almost 1/4 c. water
powdered tempera paint
mixing bowl
an ice cube tray.

Instructions:
Mix the plaster of paris and most of the water together, add 1-2 tbs. of tempera paint and mix well. Add enough water to thicken mixture. Pour into ice cube tray and let dry, then just pop it out and it is ready to use.

Finger Paints

Supplies
1 cup cornstarch
1 cup water
1 bar hypo-allergenic soap
food stuff dyes

Procedure:
Grate bar of soap until it is in fine shreds. Melt with 1/2 cup water over med heat. In a bowl combine cornstarch, 1/2 cup water, and melted soap mixture. Stir to blend. Let mixture sit and thicken. Divide into as many separate bowls as you want colors (so for 6 colors, use 6 bowls) Stir in ‘colors”

For colors: Get creative…you can mix 1/4 cup fruit juices with 2 cups of water, or you can add the juice from canned beets (straight instead of water). For browns you can use tea, for yellow you can mix turmeric with a little bit of water to make a paste. Once your dough is prepared, you can kneed in the colors.

NOTE: For thicker consistency paint: Mix 1 packet of gelatin with 1/4 cup of water. Add to the cornstarch, water and melted soap mixture.

Play Dough

Supplies:
1 cup of flour
1/2 cup of salt
1 cup cool water
2 Tbs oil
2 Tbs cream of tartar
Wax paper

Procedure:
Stir together flour, cream of tartar, salt and oil. Slowly mix in the water. Cook over medium heat stirring frequently until dough becomes stiff. Spread onto wax paper and let cool. Kneed dough with your hands until it reaches the desired consistency.

Note: You can add a few drops of color after you stir in the water (over the heat) to get colored dough. Get creative…you can mix 1/4 cup fruit juices with 2 cups of water, or you can add the juice from canned beets (straight instead of water). For browns you can use tea, for yellow you can mix turmeric with a little bit of water to make a paste. Once your dough is prepared, you can kneed in the colors.

Little Nummies: Animals A-Z

2009-09-14T11:37:00.000-04:00

I came across this really cute website called Little Nummies recently. Having one picky eater on my hands, I understand how the creator of the site got started. They recently had an Animal Special that I thought would be great to share with others.

This Alphabet Animal Special can be used in many ways:

1. Reference of ideas for daily lunches or snacks to change things up or get your toddler interested in trying to new foods (or just to get them to eat period!)

2. If you are homeschooling and your child is learning the alphabet, you could do the alphabet in order one day at a time. Have lunch, go over the letter of the day and learn about that particular animal of the day as well. Lunch, Alphabet and Animal Science - three courses in one! Couldn't get much better than that.

You can visit Little Nummies for this Animal special by visiting http://littlenummies.net/?cat=469 or to get other great food ideas visit the homepage at http://littlenummies.net. For quick reference for myself and to share with others, I have put together a list of the Animals a-z, here.

Organizing the Home

2009-09-10T01:36:00.005-04:00

I'm all about my post-it notes, to do lists, menu planning, etc. Sometimes, I think I'm more so into the lists and the planning than getting the items on those list completed!

I still have a year before state laws require my eldest child to be 'in' school. I am making all my plans now. Getting our routines (schedules and chores) figured out, home organized and all that jazz.

Here are a few things that I have found helpful in my little organizing phase.

Menu Magnets :: Balancing Everything

Chore Pockets & Tickets Part 1 & Part 2 :: Balancing Everything

Lastly, this one I just came across today and thought it would be lovely to create it to match the Innovative Closet in my previous post.

Chicken Wire Organization & Calendar Download :: The Project Girl

I have a few other things going on that I'm testing out around here that I will share soon. I'm working on our daily schedule for meals, chores, school, activities, naps/bedtimes, work at home, etc. When I figure that one out, I'll be glad to share it as well.

Our Daily Routine

2009-09-09T02:23:00.001-04:00

This plan is for myself, a stay at home mother that is trying to create a work-at-home biz in the little time that I do have. Also included are my children, almost 4 year old son and 1 1/2 year old daughter. This is always a work in progress and fits our needs & lifestyle. Not all routines/schedules with work with every family.

THE GOALS
To have the kids on a routine that they can count on for structure
To make time specifically for work, play and chores all in one day
To coordinate kids nap and bedtimes with Mommy's work & free time to create sanity.
To plan chores/quick cleans to be done with kids watching & helping along the way no matter their age.

THE NOTES
HomeSchool related activities are in teal.
The School Activity session that is 1 1/2 hours long would include a basic plan that I have created specifically for my son. That plan is below as well. My daughter can join in the activities that she is capable and willing too or have age appropriate activities set aside for her to keep busy.
There are two story times in the day which is before nap & bedtime which both of my children can participate in.
An Arts & crafts / music time as well as an outdoor play / excersice time that can be considered PE included. Both children will participate in these.
Quick Clean is on the schedule in purple.
Quick clean is 15 minutes of time to stop everything and do a quick sweep of the house. It helps in keeping tidy and not having as much to do at the end of the day. For this, you need 3 boxes, baskets, or other container. Label with Donate, Toss and Store.
Go through the house and place items to donate (clothes not worn any longer, books already read,* toys outgrown, etc) in the "DONATE" box.
Items to toss (worn out clothing, broken toys, torn books, etc) in the "TOSS" box.
And Items that need to be put back into their original places (toys, books/mags, clothing, videos/dvds, etc) into the "STORE" box.
Of course at the end of the 15 minute period or at the end of the day, throw away everything in the TOSS box, put the items from the STORE box away where it goes.
And first chance you get, drop the DONATE box off at your local Salvation Army, Goodwill, women/kids shelter or other charity center.

THE SCHEDULE

MORNING

08:30 Breakfast
09:00 Hygiene: Wash face, Brush teeth, Get Dressed, Hair/Makeup
09:15 Kids Free Time: Play, Tv, etc. Mommy get activity ready.
10:00 School Activities
11:30 Lunch

AFTERNOON

12:00 Quick Clean: Crafts, Lunch, toys
12:15 Story Time
12:30 Kids Nap / Quiet Time. Mommy work, chores or free time.
03:00 Snack
03:30 Arts & Crafts and/or Music Time
04:15 Free Time For All: Outdoor play if permitted.* Include Excercise.
06:00 Dinner
06:30 Kids Indoor Free Time. Mommy work, chores or free time.
07:30 Bath/Shower
08:00 Quick Clean (Dinner, Bath, Toys, etc)
08:15 Story Time. Snack (optional)
08:30 Kids Bed Time
08:45 Next Day Prep: Clothes laid out for all. School Activities planned.
09:00 Free Time til bed. If work at home, complete needed tasks.
NOTE: We use the same schedule 7 Days a week however on Sat & Sun instead of School Activity we just have quality family time and shopping. We of course adjust to appointments, meetings, etc -- which we try to schedule everything for Mondays so it's only one day a week that's being 'broken' by schedule.

TIP: When you get back from appointments, meetings or something else that may have thrown you off track of your regularly scheduled routine, just pick up your normal daily activities based on the present time; do not try to go back in time and have to play catch up. This also will allow the kids to continue staying on track to the schedule and no need in having to get them 'back' on schedule.

THE SCHOOL

Monday
Alphabet & Animal Science - http://LittleNummies.net/?cat=469
Bible Study - Verse & Word of the Week from Character Qualities

Tuesday
Math Worksheets - http://donnayoung.org/math/counting-shapes.htm
Bible Study - Verse & Word of the Week from Character Qualities

Wednesday
Writing Readiness - http://donnayoung.org/penmanship/redines.htm
Bible Study - Verse & Word of the Week from Character Qualities

Thursday
Reading - Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Bible Study - Verse & Word of the Week from Character Qualities

Friday
Cooking - LittleNummies.net and IttyBittyBistro.com
Bible Study - Verse & Word of the Week from Character Qualities

*DAILY IN ALLOTED TIME SCHEDULED ABOVE*

Art - Collages, Playdoh, Paint, Scissor Practice,
http://donnayoung.org/art/k-1-colors.htm (colors, shapes, tracing, writing)

PE - Outdoor play *weather permitting* or Indoor excercises

Reading - Story time before nap and bed.

THE CHORES

After lunch and dinner are two opportunities for chores. This is the list of chores to be done daily in this order for it to take less time & run smoothly. Instead of cleaning one room at a time and swapping from one cleaning supply to the next, the chores are done by task through the entire house using the same supplies at a time before moving to the next.
FABRIC
Straighten pillows & throws on furniture throughout house. Make beds; change bedding when needed.

LAUNDRY
Toss clothes in washer. Check in 25 minutes.

GLASS
Wipe all glass throughout house(mirrors, windows, tvs, computer monitors, etc.)

SURFACE
Clean dishes. Spray sinks/tubs/toilets throughout house; let sit. Wipe all counters & tables. Go back to wipe down all sinks/tubs/toilets.

FLOORS
Clear floors throughout house (Use quick clean tips w/boxes). Vaccum all carpets then sweep and mop all tiles.

LAUNDRY #2
Dry clothes then fold/hang and put up.

FINISH
Take out all trash. Check & bring in mail.

Innovative Closet

2009-09-08T22:00:00.001-04:00

Better Homes and Gardens has a great article with lots of pictures and information on how to create this closet "office". In their write up, it's used for a crafting area, but this is a great idea to use for a homeschool area for families that do not have a spare room. View the full article.

Safe Search For Kids

2009-09-07T11:13:00.001-04:00

Many people know that I was homeschooled through my high-school years. Those years were definitely a success for myself and I plan to homeschool my children when they are of age. My son is almost 4, so I’m always on the look-out for books, software, supplies and tools. By tools, I mean anything that will be of use in their education.

The internet can play an important part of learning these days. From educational games and print outs to videos and research, you can find just about anything you would need online; you can even save money by not having to invest in an expensive curriculum.

Whether you homeschool or have a private/public school child that is doing research online for homework, I suggest this nifty kids search engine. Kids can enter their keyword or phrases of choice and find the information they need through a number of trusted kid safe search engines. These search engines are preset to filter out bad words and topics that you would not want them to access.

This kids search, http://www.kigose.com, is free and effectively used by K-12 students and particularly for those between the ages of 6 – 12. There is a video tutorial on how to use the site available for new users which is helpful for those children and parents that are new to the web. There is nothing to download (like many of the search tool bars) and the navigational search bar stays at the bottom of your browser page so that you can perform new searches at any time without having to stray away from this page.
As always, for added precaution, parental supervision is suggested when children are using the internet.

All Purpose Treat Coupons

2009-09-07T10:19:00.000-04:00

This All Purpose Treat Coupon from bablisme, is too cute. Better yet, it's a printable and free! The obvious is to award your child and you can use these for anything whether it be school work completed correctly, chores completed on time, outstanding behavior/attitude, etc.

2009 Museum Day

2009-09-05T06:17:00.000-04:00

Enjoy free general admission for you and a guest to hundreds of museums and cultural venues nationwide.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

View the complete list of participating museums »

Free Printables from Living Locurto

2009-09-04T10:45:00.000-04:00

Living Locurto is a great blog to follow for those that are crafty and creative. This "Morning Routine Card" is available in two sets, one for girls and one for boys -- free!

Also while your there, check out the rest of the printable section. Another of my favorites is the "Day of the Week Tags" for cute closet organization for children.

Online Grammar and Writing Handbooks

2009-08-12T06:37:00.000-04:00

Online Grammar and Writing Handbooks by Scott Foresman for download (PDF files)

[ view for more information ]

Gutenberg Project

2009-08-09T06:15:00.000-04:00

Over 20,000 free e-books whose copyrights have expired in the United States. www.gutenberg.org

Homeschooling Quotes

2009-01-02T06:46:00.000-05:00

Reasons for Homeschooling

A main reason for homeschooling is to provide children with guided and reasoned social interactions.

- Brian D. Ray, Ph.D.

One reason for homeschooling is to enhance family relationships between children and parents and among siblings.

- Brian D. Ray, Ph.D.

Concern for developing children’s values, beliefs, worldview, and way of life is a key reason for homeschooling.

- Brian D. Ray, Ph.D.

Increased safety is a main reason for homeschooling (e.g., violence, drug & alcohol use, psychological abuse by schools, pressure for premarital sexual behaviors).

- Brian D. Ray, Ph.D.

SOCIAL SKILLS

“There appears to be … a convergence of evidence that homeschooled children’s social skills are exceptional.”

– Richard Medlin, Ph.D., HSR 17(1)

Homeschool children “… may be more socially mature and have better leadership skills than other children …”

- Richard G. Medlin, Ph.D.

Some government-school advocates claim homeschoolers will not be decent, civil, and respectful; research shows otherwise.

- Brian D. Ray, Ph.D.

Research suggests homeschool students more consistently reflect “… values that promote self-restraint.”

- T. Wayne McEntire, Ph.D., HSR 16(2)

Homeschooling Information

2009-01-01T06:41:00.000-05:00

Kentucky Homeschool Links

Christian Home Educators of Kentucky

Homeschooling in KY

Kentucky Field Trips

Kentucky Home Education Association

KY Homeschooling FAQS

KY Secular Homeschoolers

Requirements / Laws

Free Resources for Homeschool Lessons

2008-09-16T10:15:00.012-04:00

All of the links below contain free "lesson plans" that may include any resources from reading materials, worksheets, quizes/tests, tables/charts and other printables or downloads.

READING

Christian Children's Books
by Ed Dunlop, Free Download

Silly Books
Stories written by children for children

Beginning Reading
Free reading, writing & alphabet worksheets

GRAMMAR

Scott Foresman Grammar & Writing Handbooks
Downloadable PDF files for 1st - 6th grades

SCIENCE

Elementary Life Science
36 week curriculum for 6-9 yr old

MATH

HelpingWithMath.com

Best suitable for 3rd - 7th grades

Math Mammoth

280+ Free worksheets & sample pages, Starting at 1st Grade

MISC

United States Mint Lessons
Plans for math, language arts, social studies, and even science using coins.

A to Z Teacher Stuff
Lesson plans and teaching resources of misc subjects

Animal Corral
Worksheets, Games, Stories & More

KIDS PRINTABLES

Worksheet Works
Made to your specifications now

School Express
13,000+ Free Worksheets

Get Worksheets
25,000+ Free Worksheets

Scholastic Printables
Find It. Print It. Teach It.

Homeschooling Adventures
Resource List for Worksheets

Preschool Coloring Book
Let's Get Ready To Color

STATIONARY & PLANNERS

A Little Hut
Lists & Cards

Donna Young
Planners & Much More!

Hold That Thought
Planners, Forms, Organizers

Busy Body Book
Free monthly sample downloads

Kentucky Textbook Center

2008-09-08T06:11:00.000-04:00

This was just brought to my attention. I’m not positive that this center still exists, so call ahead to make sure.

This is a book warehouse where older versions of public school textbooks are stored and given away to anyone who asks. It is located at 420 Spring Hill Drive behind Lafayette High School, but it is not always open. To access the warehouse, you need to call ahead and arrange for the supervisor to meet you there: Doug Townsend, 859-381-3878. There is a limit to the number of books you may receive, and teacher’s editions are usually not available. However, many of the textbooks are in good condition and are great for anyone homeschooling on a shoestring.

Homeschooling Discounts

2008-08-11T06:26:00.000-04:00

The following is a list of companies that offer teach discounts to homeschoolers:

Apple Homeschool offers discounts to homeschoolers on their educational software products.

Borders BookStore is known to offer discounts to homeschoolers. You must apply in store for the discount.

Barnes and Noble offers teacher disounts to homeschoolers. You must apply in store for the discount.

Half Price Books offers annual discount cards for in-store purchases. Apply in store for the card.

Office Depot Star Teacher offers 5% discount off purchases at Office Depot.