Keeping Multiplication Straight…

Practicing arithmetic can be pretty frustrating at times for student and teacher. It is especially frustrating to know how to do something and repeatedly come up with wrong answers due to sloppy writing techniques.  The best tip I have received over the years was to use graph paper for multiplication and division.  (see example at the right)  This practice increased legability, technique, gradibility(?), and decreased frustration by 98%.  Each number had a spot and each column was clear for student and teacher.  Simple techniques like this can make the difference between a peaceful and stressful day of homeschooling.  

The Exodus Mandate – A Call to Christian Parents!

Math U See: A Review

Primer, Alpha, Beta, Gamma,Delta, Epsilon…What does the Greek alphabet have to do with arithmetic?  Everything when you are using Math U See! Four years ago frustrated with my inability to be a great math teacher I began researching math curriculum. I had used A Beka, Modern Curriculum Press Math, a few small workbooks but we were really struggling to find a current we could swim in and build up our strength.  

We found our current the year I bought Math U See for the first time. It came with a teaching dvd that you could watch as a parent and teach or watch together with your child. For me — a military brat who moved enough to have learning gaps in math — this was a great asset! Another asset was Steve Demme’s awesome teaching style. My children feel like they know him personally. My husband has noticed MY improvement in math as well. Math U See has received several awards through the years and they deserve each one. And as if great curriculum with a teaching DVD wasn’t enough – Steve Demme has the cheapest math on the market that includes video school teaching (to my knowledge).  Just take a look at the prices.

If you are struggling for an easy to use math curriculum I urge you to head over to Math U See and ask for their free demo video.

Creative Writing Prompts

Sometimes creative writing can be a crisis when you are all out of ideas.  Until recently that is the slump we had found ourselves in.   Being a blog writer however; I am also a blog reader.  One particular blog has caught my attention is past weeks, not only for its written content but because of the excellent photography.  

On a particular day several of the photos caught my whimsy.  I loved them and I made one my desktop wallpaper.  After several days of staring at this particular picture I couldn’t help but make up imaginary stories in my mind. The geese in the picture kept coming to life and I found that my children where just as captivated by the photo as I was. 

That was when it hit me!  Here was our writing prompt we had been waiting for. Delighted with the prospect of being able to find inspiration anywhere on the web during the dreary winter weather I have begun collecting pictures for dull days.  My seven year old tells his story orally to all of us; while my older children write in their notebooks.  Here we have covered language for the day in one session for all age groups.  

Our Mother Tongue: A Review

Grammar workbooks are my bane.  Somewhere out there I am sure exists a grammar book that isn’t going to bring  frustration and a bunch of  busywork that leaves teachers wondering what sadistic person thought to put 50 sentences to diagram on each page and then have you spend valuable time grading those same sentences.  I’ve never like diagraming sentences and I’ve NEVER liked grammar workbooks. 

Easy Grammar – tried it, started to like it, hated it.  

A Beka Grammar – well laid out year after year after year the same old, same old thing.  Do you get the idea that it is repetitively redundant???

Winston Grammar – Scared of it simply by the looks.

Jensen’s Grammar – Teacher sleeps through book.

Bob Jones Grammar – Easier version of  A Beka.

But finally I think I have found something that makes grammar an interesting subject to pursue.  Our Mother Tongue by Nancy Wilson is a brilliantly simple approach to understanding grammar “without bringing your soul down to Sheol.”  I have thoroughly looked it over and found simple explanations for higher grammar that even my fifth grader can handle while being able to catch myself up on things I must have *hmhmmm” missed in public school.

Online Directory for Missouri Homeschool Co-ops

Sometimes in the process of trying to begin something you find great new information that you did not know previously existed!  I had been researching for days before I found this awesome directory through a chance search.  

A list of MO Homeschool Co-ops from HOMESCHOOL CLASSIFIEDS.

*my original post follows below*

I am looking to place an online directory of Missouri area homeschool co-ops.  If you could give me the location of the co-op, the co-op name, and person to contact if interested in joining we could compile a great list for new Missouri Homeschooling families to find a support group easily.  Leave your information in the comment box and I will begin compiling the groups together on one page! Thanks so much for your help.

Missouri Homeschool Daily Log

Now available on LULU is this valuable time saving book providing you with 25 pages of hour tracking forms for 8 subjects. Complete with 52 weeks, 4 semester hour summary pages, and one yearly total sheet.  Available as a coil bound book or ebook download.