Learning with Thriving Family this Summer

This summer I used Thriving Family's Summer devotion: Around the World in Sixty Days.

We had a map, passport, stamps and lots of learning activities with Bible verses.  All of this was FREE!!  And you can also subscribe to get this magazine for FREE!

Video of the kids saying the names of all the countries we are studying:

I have a WINNER!!!

Last week I shared a giveaway from a curriculum that I will be using this year and got a GREAT response!  Thanks so much for joining my blog.  I can't wait to share more of what I will be doing this year. 

But now, it's time to announce the WINNER:

 

Kimberly- I have emailed you!

If you did not win and would like to purchase this fabulous curriculum for the low price of $10 (over 1500 pages!!), please click HERE.  I appreciate your support of my blog as well as enjoying the great resources that I am sharing with you.

 

READING THE ALPHABET

Bundle: $10 (download)

 

Thanks!

MOB Society Book Club: I'm Outnumbered by Laura Lee Groves starts TODAY!!

Come join the MOB Society with their new book club starting August 12.   We are reading I'm Outnumbered by Laura Lee Groves.  I read this book a few years ago.  Here is my review: http://jsknowlton.blogspot.com/2010/10/im-outnumbered-book-review.html. I encourage you to sign up for this study.  I really enjoyed the last study with Wild Things by Stephen James and David Thomas.


To sign up, click the link below for the registration form and leave your name and email address!  Then, check for an email with your confirmation link - make sure you click on that link or you won't receive the weekly emails!  Next, request to join our private MOB Book Club Facebook group for more discussion.  You'll receive a weekly email with all the information for that week's chapter, links to any videos or extra resources, and then we'll work in our Facebook group for some added discussion about what you're reading!  Be sure to grab a copy of "I'm Outnumbered: One Mom's Lessons in the Lively Art of Raising Boys."  It's going to be a great time!

Registration form

Here's a quick message from the author:
 

Two Great Deals Ending This Weekend!!

Back 2 School Survival Guide Discount ends 8/10

 

Reading the Alphabet Giveaway ends 8/11

I'm gearing up for the fall.
I am working on lesson planning.
Can't wait to share what we are doing this year!
See you in September!

 

Sukey's Circle Volume 3 Mini Shows in English and Spanish DVD Review

My review:

There is nothing more exciting for me to see than when my little daughter watches Sukey and starts singing along.  Sukey has a magical presence onscreen that mesmerizes little eyes and minds.  Her short songs, stories and activities are perfect for engaging young children and teaching many skills and concepts.  Sukey's giggle is infectious.  She is having fun and it overflows to her audience.  She invites children to copy her movements and play along with her.  She interacts with her audience and explores many simple movements, songs and stories.  We have fallen in love with Sukey, Sunny and Tick Tock.  Sukey's playroom is adorable and my kids would love to play with her there. Sukey also has beautiful dance movements and her sweet nature is charming!  A special bonus feature of this DVD is that the 15 episodes are in English and Spanish.  Children will learn so much from Sukey!

Check out this trailer for Sukey's Circle!

 

 

 

*Thank you to Elizabeth Frazier from Waldmania for sending me a copy of this DVD to review.  All opinions are my own.*

 

As Seen on BabyFirst!  In both Spanish and English!

SUKEY MOLLOY'S

SUKEY'S CIRCLE! VOL. 3: MINI SHOWS

THIRD IN AWARD-WINNING SERIES OF CHILDREN'S DVDS
TO BE RELEASED IN LATE JULY

"Sukey is undeniably today's Mr. Rogers."
-- Celebrity Parents Magazine

"One of the best music videos I've seen in a long time.  It doesn't try to be something it isn't.  I can watch this over and over."
-- NAPPA Award review of Sukey's Circle! Vol. 1  NYACK, NY -- Fans of award-winning children's entertainer Sukey Molloy's televised videos on BabyFirst can look forward to the July 30 release of Sukey's Circle! Vol. 3: Mini Shows, a bilingual DVD comprised of all 15 of Sukey's made-for-TV mini episodes. (PlayMove&Sing, Inc., $15.99, run time 33 minutes, for ages 2 - 5).  BabyFirst is broadcast nationwide on DirecTV, Dish, Comcast, and cable networks such as OneLink and Sky Angel, in addition to being broadcast throughout Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Each Sukey's Circle! Vol. 3: Mini Shows episode is presented in both Spanish and English and is imbued with the gentle, magical atmosphere and up-close, personal style that has become Sukey Molloy's calling card.  Since 2005, Sukey's DVDs and CDs have been honored with Parents' Choice, NAPPA, Children's Music Web, Preferred Choice, Creative Child, and Mom's Choice Awards.

Throughout Sukey's Circle! Vol. 3: Mini Shows, Sukey Molloy exudes a sense of fun, wonder, and joy, while presenting age-appropriate lyrics, rhythmic melodies, and colorful images that young children can easily grasp.  Using live action footage and colorful felt animation, Sukey, with her lovable "Sunshine Family" friends Sunny and Tick Tock, models simple, realistic music-and-movement play activities in a series of 2-1/2 minute videos that encourage participation, learning, and thoughtful quiet time.

While Sukey Molloy's lyrics and melodies express a sweet, childlike nuance, she doesn't compromise when it comes to musical integrity and production values.  Joining Sukey as co-producer for all her recorded music is Grammy-winner Larry Alexander, who has worked with some of the biggest stars in the music business, including Diana Ross (six albums), Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, Bon Jovi, and David Bowie, to name but a few.

Check out Sukey's website at http://sukeymolloy.com.

Reading the Alphabet Review and Giveaway!!

Recently I shared that I would be using Reading the Alphabet for PreK this year.  I was given the curriculum by Becky from This Reading Mama in exchange for a review.  I had the whole packet printed off and put in binders- all 1500 pages.  Becky has done extensive work to make this curriculum user friendly and fun for the kids.

There are 31 lessons and for each week there is a 5 day lesson plan.  There is a short list of materials that you probably already have!  Each lesson builds on the next.  In each lesson there are seven learning areas: new letters and sounds with review, sight words, phonological and phonemic awareness, book and print awareness, fine motor skills, numbers 1-20 and patterns, reading and matching CVC words.  As you can see, each lesson is loaded with multiple learning opportunities!

We did Lesson 1- Letter T with sight word: a. 

Week 1: Letter T

 

DAY 1

Letter Tt book

Poke sight word: a

Tracing Letter T- using 1+1+1=1 printable

On Day 1 we read through Letter T book with 6 pages of sentences including the sight word: a.  We did a poke page with sight word: a and held it up to the window.  Cool!!  We traced letter T and played on Starfall for letter T.  All of this took about 15 minutes which was enough to keep my son's attention and also sneak in lots of learning!!

DAY 2
 

20 grid

Sight word maze

Color pictures that start with T

On Day 2 we read Letter T book again and I pointed out the sight word and emphasized the beginning sounds of all the pictures and we looked for t's in each word.  We played the 20 grid using dice and blocks.  We rolled the dice and placed the blocks on the grid from left to right and top to bottom (great reading skill!).  We used do-a-dots for the sight word maze and we colored the letter T pictures together (the same pictures from the book).  My son was really enjoying the different learning areas.


DAY 3
 

Pocket Chart Book

Syllable counting

Find the sight word: a


On Day 3 we recreated the Letter T book in a pocket chart.  Shrade was matching words and pictures.  Then he read through it a few times.  See video below.  We also did a syllable sheet.  I used blocks to count the syllables.  After placing all the blocks on I had Shrade touch each one as he said the words.  We also did a search for the sight word: a.  There was one other activity that we did not get to on this day, but I will squeeze it in another day.



DAY 4

Working with numbers 1-10

Tracing T and a turtle

Rhyming page

On Day 4 we did the pocket chart book again.  We pointed to each word as we read it and I also emphasized the sound.  Shrade likes to take turns when we do school together.  So he reads it and then I read it.  Next we worked with numbers 1-10.  Number cards are included in the appendix.  I just glued them on sturdy paper and put contac paper over it and cut them up.  He turned over numbers and placed a dot on the correct number on the turtle.  I love those do-a-dot markers!  Next, we traced over letter T and the turtle.  We do this together.  He is so much more willing to do a paper if I do it with him.  And last, we did a rhyming paper with words that rhyme with top.  He cut out all the pictures and glued them on the paper.  Only 1 more day!!  So much learning this week!

DAY 5

Print Awareness

 

Cut and glue a pattern

 

Day 5- our last day with T!  We reread Letter T book.  Since we worked on it every day it was very familiar and he even read with expression.  The print awareness activity was probably my favorite.  I cut out the sentence, told Shrade what the sentence was and he put the words in order.  Then he glued them on the paper.  Then he drew a turtle.  This was his first time drawing something other than people.  Then we cut and glued patterns.  Shrade came up with them all on his own after I modeled one way.  The last thing which we didn't do yet was put our sight word on a word wall.  I need to figure out where to display our sight words.

 

And that's it!  There were several other pages which we didn't get to, but whenever there is a spare moment, I'm sure Shrade would be excited to do the activities on his own.

 

I can't believe ALL the things we did in one week!!

My thoughts:
I can tell that this curriculum will provide so many great learning experiences.  My son just loves the activities and he asks to do them again and again.  What I really like is that that everything is easy to use.  The lessons are prepared the same every week. All the downloads except the one from 1+11+1=1 are included in the bundle packet.  All lessons have a link to This Reading Mama if you want to see how she used them with her child.

I was impressed with the quality of the printables (pictures, activity ideas, variety).  There is minimal preparation.  The kids are engaged, the parents are engaged and the learning is unique. All 26 letters have their own special week and there are 5 weeks of review.  A sight word is learned every week and each lesson builds on the next.  The pace is slow, yet steady toward increased learning and mastery. All lessons are completed in 15 minutes but could take up to 30 minutes if you want to play around more.  And it does feel like play!

And there a enough pages and activities to stretch the learning time as well as more challenging parts like identifying larger numbers (11-20). 

I like that this reading curriculum also includes math.  I am planning to add science, cooking, crafts, Bible and other ideas to this as well. The foundation of this curriculum is perfect. I would say we will have a very well rounded PreK year!!

When I discovered this curriculum, I knew it was going to be perfect for my son and my situation.  Becky allows you to use your imagination while she has done all hard work of making the printables and creating the lessons.  I would highly recommend sending these off to be copied so you have them right at your fingertips to use.

As a former teacher, I highly concur that this is an excellent curriculum that is usable for one on one or a small group of children.  I honestly look forward to each day I get to enjoy learning with my son.

There are over 1500 pages with lesson plans, printables, resources and more!
The bundle is only $10!!

Reading the Alphabet Bundle

Visit Becky:
Blog- This Reading Mama
Facebook
Pinterest

And if you "Like" This Reading Mama on Facebook you get a set of FREE 68 page download for rolling letters, rhymes, sentences and stories!

Becky is a homeschooling mama to 4 little blessings who keep her on her toes {and knees}. She is fueled by a passion for literacy and loves to share it with others through printables, reading curricula, and literacy activities. Join her on this literacy journey!


And I am having a GIVEAWAY!!
 

GIVEAWAY:
I am having a giveaway for Reading the Alphabet Bundle (download).  Giveaway ends Sunday, August 11. 

Ways to enter: (Be sure to fill out the entry form at the end of this list)

1. Make a comment on my blog- How would you use this curriculum? (required)

2. Subscribe by email

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4. Like Milk N' Honey Learn and Grow on Facebook.
5. Like This Reading Mama on Facebook. (Be sure to get your FREEBIE for only likers!)

5. Post about this giveaway on another site (1 entry for each)- Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Other.

Entry FORM for Reading the Alphabet Bundle

Back 2 School Survival Guide by The Confident Mom Review and Discount

 

It's time for BACK to SCHOOL!!  I was a teacher for many years and I love the beginning of the school year, but now the tables have turned and I will be starting school (at home) with my son this year.  I love the routine, new habits, comforting food and sense of excitement that Fall brings.  But for many, the beginning of the school year is daunting.

Susan Heid has a wonderful resource just for you!  It's the Back to School Survival Guide 2013.

This 80 page ebook is filled with practical suggestions for getting your school year started right including schedule changes, basic morning/afternoon/evening/bedtime routines, homework hints and tips, preparing for school, family priorities, teaching responsibility, school lunches and more!

There are also 48 pages of printables:

      Student Planner

      Master Family Planner

      Routine Checklists

      School Information Sheet

      Schedule Adjustment Worksheet

      Countdown Maze

      My Favorites Lunch Planning Worksheet

      Grocery Planner

      Family Fun Worksheet

      Family Meeting Agenda

      School Goals Worksheet

      Classmate Contact Sheet

      Important Dates At-A-Glance Sheet

      Lunchbox Notes, Jokes, and Quotes

      Note to Teacher Form 

 

Susan's step by step suggestions for back to school success are practical, doable and obtainable.  The best part that really made it a personal planner is filling in your own action steps after each survival tip.  Susan doesn't just tell you what to do, she encourages you to take action.  That makes for a very successful and enjoyable school year for you and your children.

I felt like I could confidently make a purposeful and meaningful plan for my school year with this survival guide.  I know that when I have a plan and I have written down schedules, routines, and the family knows what to expect, the chance for a prosperous and thriving school year is available to me and my family.

This guide is adaptable for both families that send kids to school and those that homeschool.

Starting the new school year can be joyful, fun and organized.  Get your Back 2 School Survival Guide today!!

BACK 2 SCHOOL SURVIVAL GUIDE 2013
Regular price: $10
Discount code for $2 off: SCHOOLMOM
Expires: 8/10/13

Get your Back 2 School Survival Guide today!!