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Tuesday, June 22, 2021

FREE Summer Reading Printable for Older Children

 I was so disappointed to find out that our local library was forgoing a summer reading program this summer that I decided to make our own! I made these BINGO cards for older kids (I also have a version for younger kids). There are different genres and requirements for each book square. As your child finishes a book, he can color in the square and record the title on the back of the page. When your child BINGOs, you can take them out for a fabulous prize!

If you follow me on Instagram, I am offering a prize of a new book for any child that BINGOs by the end of July! You just have to post a picture of the completed BINGO card and tag me (@toddler_school). I'll repost your photo and mail your child a book. 

To print the BINGO card, simply click the photo below! If you want to play with us on Instagram, print the card, follow me, and tag me in any photos! 



FREE Summer Reading Bingo Printable for Younger Children

 I was so disappointed that our local library wasn't doing a summer reading program this year that I decided to make one for my own children. The first one I made is a Summer Reading BINGO game for younger children - toddlers through around kindergarten. I created it so you pick a book on one of the topics provided, read it to or with your child, and then color the square (or the picture in some of them). The topics are pretty varied - zoo to pizza to weather! 

If you follow me on Instagram (@toddler_school) I will be giving prizes away. Each child that completes a "black-out" BINGO card will receive a book in the mail from me! I'll also be choosing one winner at the end of the month to receive a special prize bag. You have the entire month of July to complete the card. It would mean reading roughly 24 books (you have one free space). You will have to post a picture of the completed BINGO card, tagging me so I'll see it, to receive the book.

To use the free printable, simply click the picture below. To follow along with us on Instagram, print the picture, follow me and I'll have a sign-up post for anyone who wants to join! 



Saturday, June 19, 2021

Free Father's Day Dot Marker Worksheets

 Are you looking for something cute and simple for your child to do for their daddy for Father's Day? Look no further! I have created six different Father's Day dot marker templates with the most adorable watercolor clip art and funny sayings! You can download your free Father's Day Dot Marker Worksheets by clicking HERE or visiting the Toddler Resources page (top of this page). Which one is your favorite? Let me know if you download these super fun worksheets!








Friday, June 18, 2021

2021-2022 Homeschool Curriclum Choices

 I know, I know...the 2020-2021 school year JUST ended. We have actually been finished since early May, and I already knew what curriculum I was going to be using. I wanted to go ahead and order it, get it in and organized, and get really familiar with it all. So, without further delay, here is our 2021-2022 curriculum choices!


Mercie - 8th grade



Mercie will be in 8th grade this year, which is a little mind-boggling. Time really does fly by! We chose her curriculum this year based on a few things:

1.) She is totally independent in her schoolwork, so she needed something with detailed instructions for each day and each subject.

2.) She loves to read so we wanted something with tons of great literature already planned in.

3.) She likes hands-on activities so that also needed to be written in to the plans.

We are going with Heart of Dakota's Missions to Modern Marvels this year. We went with the Deluxe program, including the President's study. There are so many great books she will be reading this year! The teacher's book has a daily 2-page spread with very detailed instructions for each subject. We printed out the first week sample and she really liked how it was written and the activities she would be doing. 



For math, she is going to continue with Principles of Mathematics Book 2 which was the recommended math in the curriculum. This worked out perfectly!



For grammar, she will be using Rod and Staff 7. She will also be using Write With The Best for composition.



If you'd like a complete look at the books she will be using, click Here!

Silas and Titus - 6th and 4th

Silas and Titus will be combined again this year into Heart of Dakota's Preparing Hearts for His Glory. This curriculum has a few independent activities but most of them are teacher-directed or semi-independent. I love the book choices here, and the detailed plans for me to follow! The poetry, art, music, Bible memory work, and nature study are already planned out for me so they won't be skipped.


We will have lots of great read alouds this year, and I am very excited about this! This is one area that gets overlooked or pushed to the back burner with the boys. I read aloud so much more to my older kids. I really am looking forward to this time with them.


Silas will also be using the Independent History section, and I may even let Titus take a crack at it. Here are the books for that.




For math, they will continue in Math Lessons for a Living Education 6 and 4. The suggested math was Singapore but we really like the math we're using. 



For grammar, they will be in Rod and Staff grammar 3 and 4. I'm considering putting them both in 3, but I'll have to get the books in to really look and decide about that.


To look more closely at the books we will be using, click Here!

All three of them will be using Heart of Dakota's Drawn into the Heart of Reading program. I did not order the book packages but will choose books from the included book list. I ordered the Superset Package because it contains the Teacher's Guide as well a one of each level of Student Books, which is exactly what I needed!



Zeke - Tot School

Zeke will be using Heart of Dakota's Little Hands to Heaven alongside extra resources and activities that I'm creating to supplement it. He will still have his daily tot trays and activities that will correspond with the daily lessons. I've used this program with my older kids, and it's such a fun and gentle program. We may do it two years in a row or take two weeks per week and stretch it out. 



I cannot wait to get the curriculum in! Have you decided what you'll be using for 2021-2022?

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Toddler School - How to Start

Toddlers are so much fun to homeschool! I have six kids, so I've been through toddler school five times already and going through it my sixth. Over the years, my toddler's school time has evolved and changed. I've learned so much about this age group that has given me more confidence in teaching toddlers.

I have an Instagram account (@toddler_school) where I share Zeke's daily toddler school activities. I've been doing this since he was 17 months old and he is now 2 years 6 months old. I get messages all the time asking me about starting toddler school - how? when? why?

Toddler school will look different for every child because every child is developmentally on their own levels. The great thing about homeschooling is that you can adjust and adapt every activity to your child's abilities. 

WHEN TO START TODDLER SCHOOL

Knowing when to start toddler school will depend mostly on your child and partly on you. The age I recommend starting toddler school is around 15-18 months old. At this age, toddlers generally don't put everything in their mouth, are starting to focus for a minute or two at a time, and really enjoy structured play. (Remember, every child is different. If your child hasn't reached these milestones yet, it's perfectly fine to wait a few months.)


HOW TO START TODDLER SCHOOL

I always suggest starting with a simple activity that you know your child can complete. If you present a challenging activity at first, your child will be frustrated and will not want to continue with it. Here are a three examples of simple activities for young toddlers:

Color Sorting - Start with a few items in only two colors - maybe three red pom poms and three blue pom poms. Provide colored cups or felt or paper to sort in/on. Once your child is comfortable sorting two colors, you can gradually add in more, one at a time.



Pom Pom Push - This is a great first toddler school activity! Simply provide your child with a "push container" (as I call them) and some pom poms. A push container can be anything with a small hole that pom poms will fit through (even an empty water bottle will work, but it's hard to get the pom poms back out!). Every toddler I know that has tried this activity has absolutely loved it. It's simple, it's fun, it's portable. 


Craft Stick Drop - Again, this is a really simple activity. Give your child craft sticks and a container with a hole that they can drop them into. These activities are great for fine motor skill development!



I also suggest doing toddler school around the same time each day, so your toddler knows when to expect it and what to expect. I started Zeke's toddler school early in the mornings, first thing. He came to expect a "tot tray" right when he woke up. He would even go to his empty tray sometimes and bring it to me to fill! 

Don't expect your toddler to spend thirty minutes on toddler school, either! When Zeke first started with his activities, he normally spent two to five minutes on them, depending on his interest level. Keep your expectations low and you will probably be pleasantly surprised! 

I also leave the activities out for most of the day, in an accessible place for Zeke. He would often go back to the activity several times and play on his own. This also fosters independent and self-directed play.

Finally, don't be disappointed if your child decides to do an activity differently than you had imagined or planned. Sometimes Zeke would change up the activity but it was still beneficial for him! If I let him do his activity his way, he would usually decided to do it "my" way as well.




WHY DO TODDLER SCHOOL

Some people wonder if toddler school is necessary. While I don't think it's necessary, I do think it's incredibly beneficial and gives your toddler a great start on their educational journey. 

I don't think it's necessary it's teach your toddler all of their alphabet, or how to read, or how to count money. All of that will come with time. Toddler school is all about exposure, experiences, and exercises. 

Exposure to new ideas - Experiences with new materials - Exercises for fine motor development

Spending a few minutes a day with your toddler focusing on new ideas sets the stage for preschool. It gives your toddler the knowledge that learning is fun and normal. It prepares them for absorbing bigger ideas and harder concepts. It also gives you special one on one time with your child, especially if you have multiple children. I homeschool my older children, so giving Zeke that undivided attention in the mornings fills his bucket and helps him get through the day. I also really enjoy that time we have. 

I do use a toddler curriculum with Zeke now (I wrote it; it's in my Etsy shop!), and it's a letter of the week curriculum. We are on week six, and he hasn't remembered any letters yet.  That's not my goal. My goal is to introduce him to the idea of letters and sounds, tracing, cutting and gluing, coloring, sorting. He loves the worksheets we do together, the books we read together, the crafts we make together. I don't worry if he can't even sing the entire alphabet song, can't count past ten, and doesn't know all of his shapes. He has great visual discrimination skills, great fine motor skills, great tracing skills, and a love of toddler school. I believe this is time well invested into him. 

Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing some different ideas for toddler school based on the age groups - 12-18 months, 18-24 months, and 24-30 months. Subscribe to my blog so you don't miss any new posts! I'll also be including new and free printable resources with each post. 

I'm including some pom-pom shape cards today. Download, print, laminate, and use with pom poms or buttons. I have included six shapes in black and white and color. 



Leave me a comment telling me why toddler school is or isn't important to you!