There are three questions for each chapter, though some have multiple parts.
And of course, here is the answer key 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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