A New Springtime

Researching How To Teach My Son with Down Syndrome How to Read

I am praying to be able to teach our son who has Down Syndrome how to read. he will turn five in April this year. I read in this book that when a child with DS  can discriminate  items (match like things with other like things) that is a good time to begin teaching them to read. Our son can definitely do that. he has mastered this skill by using:

• a shape sorter
• matching card games (Dollar Tree)
• color matching putting items of the same color on a colored sheet of construction paper
• matching games (Brown Bear picture card game)
• Melissa and Dough wooden puzzles ( big knobs, smaller knobs)

I am sure there are many other fun ways to encourage kids to recognize like things. the internet is full of ideas!

I like to take my time to read these type of books and I also encourage anyone trying to do this to take notes. Treat yourself to a pretty journal or notebook to make this a personal and important enjoyable journey.

I think a chapter every 3 days is reasonable. After reading and taking notes give yourself a few days for the info to sink in. Go back and read over the notes before going on, highlighting anything that stands out in your mind.

I find it very helpful to discuss what I have read with an interested relative or friend, verbally discussing the information helps me to retain what I have read and get some positive feed back and encouragement from others as well!

"I can do all things in Jesus Christ who strengthens me!" This is the phrase I will keep before me while reading and praying while taking on this task.

 

 

 

Creating Planners

 
  I like to use 2 or 3 ring binders for planners because I can easily add or remove papers when needed. They are also great because most of them have a clear plastic pocket on the cover  that can be filled with scrapbook or card stock of your choice. This can also be changed.

I am using this binder for our home school plans, I am breaking it down by child from youngest to oldest. In each section I have a photo copy picture of the book and the breakdown by month. I will write about that in another post.

Each year I pray for inspiration on what I should use as our"theme" mission statement and I use that as a title for my/our planner. This year I was influenced by Pope Francis's Encyclical, Laudate Sii, God Be Praised!

I like to use a smaller binder for my calendar planning in case I have to take it with me anywhere. I usually don't but just in case. It is easier to store and carry this way. This one I picked up at Michael's, it is actually a four-ring binder. I laminated some paper and attached to the cover. My planners are now a matching set. Neat , clean and pretty. The big rubber band is to old the planner shut and it is just a hair elastic from $ Tree.

I hope this gives you some ideas on how simple it can be to make a planner. Have fun and don't get overwhelmed. A post on the inside will be coming soon.

Summer Library Picks

 

Pictures Tell A Story

These are one one of my favorite sets of pictures because they tell a special story. My youngest daughter and I read this library book called, " Mama Built a Little Nest".

 The boo told about how a cuckoo bird will lay its egg in another bird's nest so that the other bird's will raise it.

The next day we noticed a bird's nest in a wreath on our front porch and in it were 2 light blue eggs and one speckled brown egg, It was just like the story in the book!

Relaxed Summer Learning on the Cheap

Picking up used books at tag sales, our local library,  and thrift stores is an affordable way to be able to keep some quality reads around the house! Our library usually has a shelf of books for sale and they are about 3 for $1.

I have always found that Klutz Kits really know how to motivate kids! I don't mind paying full price for them but finding them used is even better! This one is like those social media quizzes, ex. What kind of cookie are you?

I think this book will be great for summer since it has a lot of hands on activities that promote  keeping the Earth beautiful! Leave books out on end tables or coffee tables instead of on shelves, they will likely get more use that way.

Usborne Books are another great book publishing company. They are well planned out and this one  even has internet related links for further learning resources.

Reproductibles are a quick and easy way to print up some fun monthly themed activities for the kids when the kids are bored.

Keeping books in the home encourages self-directed learning and helps kids develop a love for reading as well. Books don't have to be expensive there are many ways to obtain them cheaper than retail price. Try all different types of titles and subjects to see your child's interest grow!

 

 

Summer Salads on My Mind Giveaway

I am doing my very first giveaway and I am so excited! I think it is a great time of year to eat healthier foods because they are so much more available.    In a few weeks many people will have veggies growing right in their own back yard or frequenting there towns farmer's markets!

 Fresh salads are easy to toss together and can be filled with wonderful ingredients grown locally or picked straight off the plant or vine!

There are so many different ways to make salads and this great book by William Sonoma has some great ideas! Not only does it have the salad recipes but it also has recipes for dressings, too!

Sharing recipes can be a great gift  idea for a family member or friend. I like to write my favorites ones on some pretty stationery and  give together with a few of the yummy ingredients in a pretty bowl or basket.

Salads are a great way to bring friends together on a sunny summer afternoon! A few simple festive flags as to decorate the middle of the table in the dining room, on the front porch or  the back patio.  I want to spend some time catching up and sharing my blessed life with some of the women I don't get to see during the busy home school year.

Two of my favorite colors during the summer are navy blue and kelly green. They make me think of sailing and a life at the beach! I love watching sailboats when we go to Mystic Rhode Island for a few days each summer.

I hope this summer brings with it many opportunities to gather my thoughts and some friends to share my home and some fresh delicious food! I want to give away these items to help another to do the same:

• Food Made Fast, Salad by William Sonoma
• a galvanized hanging chalkboard ( write a welcome greeting for family & friends)
• an adorable salad bowl or strainer ( Kelly green)
• a coupon/receipt organizer ( navy blue)
• a notepad to jot down ideas
• a pack of note cards and envelopes (can be used as recipes card or invitations)
• 5 festive flags

All of these a ideas are just suggestions of course, this giveaway is a gift just for you to make and create your own special summer memories!

I will run this giveaway until Wednesday of next week, and the names will be folded and put in the salad bowl and randomly picked by my daughter.

I will announce the winner  Thursday,  June 11, 2015. I will mail it off to the winner that afternoon.

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment telling me your favorite Salad and your favorite summer colors and why these colors are your favorite.

 

 

 

Henry David Thoreau & Walden Pond for Kids

I love seeing my kids do art work. Being creative has always been a part of my life because my grandmother got me involved in her arts and crafts! She was so patient and kind showing me how and what to do with each project we shared.
My thirteen year old daughter enjoyed  using water colors and pastels to create this picture of Henry David Thoreau. It is her interpretation of one of the illustrations in the book, " If you Spent the Day with Thoreau at Walden Pond".

She drew a picture of the map of the pond from the book as well.

For English Grammar, I had her write a paragraph about the book and decorate it with some print-outs from the internet. We will end our school year reading from the journal that Thoreau kept while he lived at Walden Pond and take a field trip to Concord where the Pond is located.

Living Books Education

  A Charlotte Mason Education is based on Living Books. These are basically books that are not text books. This approach allows children to form a relationship with their topics instead of filling them with a bunch of facts. I have found that this approach works well and the children surely enjoy it more!  

 These are a few books we are using right now...

Zinnia's Flower Garden

If You Spent A Day With Thoreau at Walden Pond

 

 

Twister Trouble Magic School Bus

 

 

 

 

 

The Merry Adventures Of Robin Hood

 

 

 

 

Charles and Mary Lamb, Tales from Shakespeare

Something Is Cuckoo

The other day we discovered this nest and eggs over a wreath on our front porch.

Something was weird, there were 2 eggs alike and one different.

My daughter pulled out a book we had read the day before and said, " Hey it's just like the one in the book."

Sure enough, she was right! on one of the beautifully illustrated pages was a picture of a nest just like the one on our porch. It must be the workings of a cuckoo bird or a cat bird. They place their eggs in another bird's nest so the other bird raises it.

 

 

Spring Copywork and Nature

Ahh, Spring has sprung and after a  the winter we  had here in New England, it is  more welcome than ever before! It is a great time to read some Spring themed poetry and exploring the yard for new life!

A favorite seasonal poem book is "Be Blest" by Mary Beth Owens.

A great way to do English Grammar in the springtime is called Copy work. Have the kids copy a poem paying attention to the punctuation and spelling. It gives them an appreciation for good literature as well!

Right now my daughter, who is in sixth grade, is copying this poem called, " Nest Eggs" by Robert Louis Stevenson illustrated by Tasha Tudor.

Hunting for signs of new life in our front and backyard is always a treat especially when we find ...

I hope you have a blessed Spring!