This was a fun activity for reviewing the spelling of number words. It took a few tries to get everything to fit properly - my oldest has fun teasing me about the fact that in the version I gave to him, I misspelled the word nineteen so that he couldn't make it fit on the puzzle! Anyway, I PROMISE that this version is better and that all the answers fit because I provided the answer key as well! Enjoy!
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
When I saw this abridged version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the Dollar Spot at Target, I knew we had to read it!
It's RL 4.0, so beginning of fourth grade, which is on the easy side for my oldest, but it's such a great story! And when he finished the book, we watched the movie and talked about all the differences between the two mediums. Of all the books we've read with corresponding movies, this one had the most noticeable differences, and his whole world was rocked when he realized just how much gets changed when a book is made into a movie!
Here are the comprehension questions for this version of the book:
And the answer key:
It's RL 4.0, so beginning of fourth grade, which is on the easy side for my oldest, but it's such a great story! And when he finished the book, we watched the movie and talked about all the differences between the two mediums. Of all the books we've read with corresponding movies, this one had the most noticeable differences, and his whole world was rocked when he realized just how much gets changed when a book is made into a movie!
Here are the comprehension questions for this version of the book:
And the answer key:
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
Charlotte's Web is an ultimate children's classic. Its themes and lessons are timeless, and the characters are so beautifully written that they'll work their way into your heart and stay there forever. It's RL 4.9, which is equivalent to the end of fourth grade.
Here are the comprehension questions:
And, as always, the answer key:
Here are the comprehension questions:
And, as always, the answer key:
Stuart Little by E. B. White
Stuart Little is a children's classic by E. B. White, but we were disappointed by it because it didn't seem to have a definite plot. It seemed more random, like it was just a collection of experiences, rather than the normal arc novels take wherein there is a specific problem and solution. At first it seemed like those elements would be present, but there was never any satisfying conclusion. It was as if the author lost interest in the original plot and just decided to quit. My oldest didn't enjoy the book at all, and honestly, neither did I. It was my first time reading the book, though I'd seen the 1999 movie adaptation before and had enjoyed that. I was unimpressed with the book, and I'm not sure I'll repeat reading it with my younger children. Despite this, I know many people love the story - it's a classic for a reason - so I'm still going to provide our questions and answers for you. This book is RL 3.9, which is a reading level equivalent to the end of third grade.
Comprehension questions:
And answer key:
Comprehension questions:
And answer key:
Monday, February 9, 2015
Dolphin Tale 2 (Junior Novel) adapted by Gabrielle Reyes
My oldest really enjoys books based on true stories, and especially books about animals. So when we saw Dolphin Tale 2 at a local school's book fair, we knew it would quickly become a favorite of his. So far this school year, it's the book he's enjoyed most. And since the book was written based on the movie, there were very few differences between book and movie, which was great for continuity's sake once he finished the novel. This book is Fauntas & Pinnell level S, which translates to fourth or fifth grade.
Here are the comprehension questions for this book:
And here's the answer key:
Here are the comprehension questions for this book:
And here's the answer key:
Spelling and Vocabulary Lists
I spent months - nearly an entire year - looking for a non-consumable spelling/vocab book for my kids, and kept coming up empty-handed. I remember the spelling books I used in elementary school, but they're no longer in print, and the local school district doesn't have them anymore. So I looked into workbooks, but quickly decided they cost much more than I was willing to spend. For a while I came up with lists of words on my own, but I felt like I was quickly running out of ideas. I began scouring the internet for lists of words that would be appropriately challenging for my kids. There was so much available, but I noticed that many were only accessible via subscription, and others were only for a specific grade level - there was no option to move to another grade level within the site. Then I found AAA Spell (link is to the second grade lists, but you can easily navigate to other levels as needed). It had lists of words for first thru eighth grades! This is my current favorite site for my kids' spelling and vocab. My oldest uses it as a vocabulary builder by finding definitions for each word, and when he's quizzed each week, I give him the definition, and he has to figure out the correct word, as well as the correct spelling.
So many vocabulary resources now give one or two words daily, but there's no time to review and practice the words in order to integrate them into your life - they're just words on a page. I want to give my children a broad vocabulary of words they'll actually use and understand so they can describe the nuances of life and their experiences vividly. In order to do this, they need to learn not just that the words exist, but what they mean and how to use them in a sentence. They need to incorporate them into themselves, and they need more than just one day to do that. So we talk about the words, look up definitions in the dictionary, use them in sentences, quiz on meanings, talk about synonyms and antonyms, and point them out in our reading. They also gain valuable study skills in using the dictionary, learning to alphabetize, and preparing for the weekly quizzes.
My kindergartener does things a little differently for now. We're still working on writing letters and learning the phonics of each. So every Monday, we make a list of words that use the letter of the week. When the letter has multiple phonics, we make sure to explore all of them - long and short vowel sounds, hard and soft consonants, and letters whose phonics change when combines with others (ch-, ph-, sh-, th-, etc.). Once we finish the alphabet, we'll move on to words that rhyme (-at words, for example: bat, cat, fat, etc.). Once he's got a handle on how phonics work and is more confident in his reading and writing abilities, we'll gradually switch to the method I'm using with my oldest.
Of course, you can do whatever you want with these lists. Whatever method works best for you and your student(s) can be made to work with these lists of words. My purpose in writing this particular post is just to give a resource. If you have spelling/vocab resources that are great, please feel free to share them in the comments! I'm always looking for new things, and I know most other homeschooling families are as well.
So many vocabulary resources now give one or two words daily, but there's no time to review and practice the words in order to integrate them into your life - they're just words on a page. I want to give my children a broad vocabulary of words they'll actually use and understand so they can describe the nuances of life and their experiences vividly. In order to do this, they need to learn not just that the words exist, but what they mean and how to use them in a sentence. They need to incorporate them into themselves, and they need more than just one day to do that. So we talk about the words, look up definitions in the dictionary, use them in sentences, quiz on meanings, talk about synonyms and antonyms, and point them out in our reading. They also gain valuable study skills in using the dictionary, learning to alphabetize, and preparing for the weekly quizzes.
My kindergartener does things a little differently for now. We're still working on writing letters and learning the phonics of each. So every Monday, we make a list of words that use the letter of the week. When the letter has multiple phonics, we make sure to explore all of them - long and short vowel sounds, hard and soft consonants, and letters whose phonics change when combines with others (ch-, ph-, sh-, th-, etc.). Once we finish the alphabet, we'll move on to words that rhyme (-at words, for example: bat, cat, fat, etc.). Once he's got a handle on how phonics work and is more confident in his reading and writing abilities, we'll gradually switch to the method I'm using with my oldest.
Of course, you can do whatever you want with these lists. Whatever method works best for you and your student(s) can be made to work with these lists of words. My purpose in writing this particular post is just to give a resource. If you have spelling/vocab resources that are great, please feel free to share them in the comments! I'm always looking for new things, and I know most other homeschooling families are as well.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Skinny Bones by Barbara Park
Here is a set of reading comprehension questions (and answers) for the book Skinny Bones by Barbara Park. This book is Fauntas & Pinnell level S, which translates to fourth or fifth grade.
There are three questions for each chapter, though some have multiple parts.
And of course, here is the answer key as well.
There are three questions for each chapter, though some have multiple parts.
And of course, here is the answer key as well.
Book Report Form for Elementary Schoolers
So many of the book report forms I found online for elementary schoolers were either too simple or too complex for what my children need. The ones that were what I wanted were through paid sites. Rather than shell out money for an entire website in order to use one or two pages, I decided to make my own. It's worked really well for us because it gets to the point while still leaving room for your student to pull details from the book he or she read. But since it's only one page long, it also won't be an overwhelming task for a younger child to complete.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Basic Resources
Many times, I've had friends who are interested in homeschooling, but they're overwhelmed with the idea of getting started. my biggest advice is this: if this is something you want - if it's important to you - you will figure out what works for you.
My second piece of advice is to do some research. Find out what the homeschooling laws are where you live. They vary by state, so look to your local school system for the information you need to stay compliant with the law. I found the very basics of the state laws in Homeschooling for Dummies for both states in which I've homeschooled. After that, I was able to find more specific information through the local Board of Education.
After that, you need to figure out what type of program you want to use. There are boxed kits you can send away for, but this will cost you. Some school districts offer online schooling so that it's still technically through the public school system, but your child does all their work at home or on the computer. I chose neither of these approaches. Instead, I picked up a copy of Home Learning Year by Year by Rebecca Rupp. It quickly became my homeschooling bible - if I could have only made one purchase for homeschooling, it would be this book.
When I first began my homeschooling journey, I was worried I wouldn't know what to teach or when to teach it. I was scared I would miss things or completely miss the mark. So when I needed to find a curriculum that would work for us without spending an arm and a leg, this book was a life saver! First, it has a separate chapter for each year from preschool through twelfth grade. Within each grade level, there are sections dedicated to each subject, along with subsections for more specific areas (reading, handwriting, speaking, punctuation, etc. all fall under the language arts section). From there, each subsection lists the concepts to be taught, a brief explanation, and relevant resources that can help teach that concept.
This year, our fourth year of homeschooling (and third year of doing it officially), brought me some questions as to how well my children were doing compared with where they "should" be. I began looking for information on grade level expectations for math and reading. I knew my oldest was reading well above his grade level, but I wasn't sure how far to push him without overwhelming him. That's when I found Mind Sprinting's free online assessment tool.
This website tests your child's math level by starting with problems that should be fairly easy based on the grade level you select for them. It continues until they get a certain number of questions wrong. The problems presented represent many different mathematical concepts for a full assessment of their true skill level.
The reading level test is split into two categories. First is basic reading skills - termed "Reading Excellence" on the site - through third grade. Once they've reached the third grade level there, you move on to "Reading Comprehension" which tests through twelfth grade. Any grade level reader can take either test - which came in very handy for us.
The first book my oldest (second grade) read during this school year was geared toward second grade, but it was much too easy for him. After taking the reading comprehension test, we learned he was reading at the fourth grade level! I began helping him find fourth grade level books, and suddenly he was challenged without it being too difficult for him. After seeing how well this assessment pinpointed both my children's math and reading levels, I decided to add this tool to my arsenal. So now, at the beginning, mid-point, and end of the school year, I have my kids take this assessment to see how they're doing and to make sure they're making the progress they should.
Lastly, I want to share a chart that compares various reading level scales to make finding appropriate books less difficult.
My second piece of advice is to do some research. Find out what the homeschooling laws are where you live. They vary by state, so look to your local school system for the information you need to stay compliant with the law. I found the very basics of the state laws in Homeschooling for Dummies for both states in which I've homeschooled. After that, I was able to find more specific information through the local Board of Education.
After that, you need to figure out what type of program you want to use. There are boxed kits you can send away for, but this will cost you. Some school districts offer online schooling so that it's still technically through the public school system, but your child does all their work at home or on the computer. I chose neither of these approaches. Instead, I picked up a copy of Home Learning Year by Year by Rebecca Rupp. It quickly became my homeschooling bible - if I could have only made one purchase for homeschooling, it would be this book.
When I first began my homeschooling journey, I was worried I wouldn't know what to teach or when to teach it. I was scared I would miss things or completely miss the mark. So when I needed to find a curriculum that would work for us without spending an arm and a leg, this book was a life saver! First, it has a separate chapter for each year from preschool through twelfth grade. Within each grade level, there are sections dedicated to each subject, along with subsections for more specific areas (reading, handwriting, speaking, punctuation, etc. all fall under the language arts section). From there, each subsection lists the concepts to be taught, a brief explanation, and relevant resources that can help teach that concept.
This year, our fourth year of homeschooling (and third year of doing it officially), brought me some questions as to how well my children were doing compared with where they "should" be. I began looking for information on grade level expectations for math and reading. I knew my oldest was reading well above his grade level, but I wasn't sure how far to push him without overwhelming him. That's when I found Mind Sprinting's free online assessment tool.
This website tests your child's math level by starting with problems that should be fairly easy based on the grade level you select for them. It continues until they get a certain number of questions wrong. The problems presented represent many different mathematical concepts for a full assessment of their true skill level.
The reading level test is split into two categories. First is basic reading skills - termed "Reading Excellence" on the site - through third grade. Once they've reached the third grade level there, you move on to "Reading Comprehension" which tests through twelfth grade. Any grade level reader can take either test - which came in very handy for us.
The first book my oldest (second grade) read during this school year was geared toward second grade, but it was much too easy for him. After taking the reading comprehension test, we learned he was reading at the fourth grade level! I began helping him find fourth grade level books, and suddenly he was challenged without it being too difficult for him. After seeing how well this assessment pinpointed both my children's math and reading levels, I decided to add this tool to my arsenal. So now, at the beginning, mid-point, and end of the school year, I have my kids take this assessment to see how they're doing and to make sure they're making the progress they should.
Lastly, I want to share a chart that compares various reading level scales to make finding appropriate books less difficult.
Welcome!
As a homeschooling mother to two young children (with my third starting preschool next school year) and wife to a graduate student, I've found myself constantly looking for inexpensive, quality instruction materials. My kids devour books and worksheets - they LOVE them! I've looked for hours and printed hundreds of pages from the internet, but after all that time and effort, I've found myself still lacking some of the things they need for a well-rounded education. For that reason, I started making their worksheets and other school things myself this school year.
I figured there must be other families in similar situations who are looking for similar types of materials, so I decided to start this blog in an attempt to provide the worksheets, book questions, and resources I've created or found for free or very, very little. The worksheets and book questions I provide will also include answer keys where appropriate.
Lastly, these materials are geared toward homeschooling families, and I ask that you respect that. I have put a lot of time and effort into making these pages, and I hope they will be useful to you!
I figured there must be other families in similar situations who are looking for similar types of materials, so I decided to start this blog in an attempt to provide the worksheets, book questions, and resources I've created or found for free or very, very little. The worksheets and book questions I provide will also include answer keys where appropriate.
Lastly, these materials are geared toward homeschooling families, and I ask that you respect that. I have put a lot of time and effort into making these pages, and I hope they will be useful to you!
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