Do you ever get caught up in something good?  Well I did!  It was good...but homeschool suffered. 

Time to get back on track!  I will be adding more free resources!  Hurah!

Online School: Connections Academy

Here is another online schooling option.

Connections Academy

is an online public school.
(click here to check out their web site)

Like K12 they provide you with FREE curriculum

(and possibly a free computer if you qualify).

Online public schools

are a good option for parents who feel like they can't do it on their own

and feel as if they need more guidance and support.

Online School: K12

Looking for FREE?

You might want to look into...

K12 Online School

(click this link to go to their home page-this is the AZ page)



It is an online public school.

This may be an option that you might want to explore.

You get everything for FREE.

Sometimes they'll give you a computer to help you out (if you qualify).

For more details check out their page.

If you are wondering...No,

we do not use an online public school for homeschooling.

We have chosen not to.

It may be what YOU are looking for.

You won't find out if it's what you want until you check it out.

Reading Reflex

Reading Reflex

A friend recommended this book for reading.  I started using it and really like it.  I took my older kids through it as a review and started my younger ones on it.  I started my 5 year old and the 3 year old wanted some of the action. 

Guess what?...My 3 year old is in the beginning developing stages of reading. 

How & Why?

It is different from the traditional style of teaching reading...
    
Traditional (one method): learn the sounds (and or letter names at the same time-many programs have you learn the names of the letters before you even start to learn the sounds of the letters).  After learning/mastery then you apply what you have learned.  Here is a problem with this system...you have to learn all the letters before applying.  You can't move on till you learn all 26 letters.

Reading Reflex: the child learns letter sounds in smaller sets and then applies what they have learned right away.  Example: learn c, a, t, f, m.  Learn 5 sounds and then you can make...at, cat, fat, mat, fam (for family...my 5 year old figured this one out).  They can be reading after a few short practice sessions.  They also learn their sounds based on "sound pictures."  Which gets them reading faster (because they cut out the middle man-less steps/processing).

The reading reflex system uses flash cards (can be homemade) and a few reading selections.  At first I was stand-offish because I was trained in traditional style.  Once I got into the program I loved it.  I will never go back!

I am VERY happy with the program!!!  Remember...I'm a trained teacher and one of my passions is curriculum.  I've studied, reviewed, and looked at quite a bit of programs.  This one is simple, easy to use, easy to do, and quick to get the kids going and excited.

This is not necessarily a FREE curriculum resource.  Maybe you can find this resource at your local library.  You can also find excellent prices on ebay.  I borrowed from a friend so for me it was free (thanks Kami)!


Thanks Meredith for the recommendation!

Free: Writing and Grammar Curriculum (Scott Foresman)

Scott Foresman...

they give you FREE access to their

online writing and grammar curriculum.

It's an online (complete) book/workbook. 

They are also available for download...for FREE.

They have one book per grade.

Grades 1-6

visit the link below to check it out...

http://www.sfreading.com/resources/ghb.html

dailygrammar.com: FOLLOW-UP

I started using dailygrammar.com

but...

with all things that come for FREE...

there is a catch...
they are not necessarily free from work.

I found that the concepts are introduced very quickly and that the pace is also very quick!

NOT A PROBLEM:

I just take it slow.  I beef up my explanation, discuss more, and do more practice before moving on to the next concept.  Grammar is not my thing so I have to do a little homework before working with the kids to make sure I know what I am talking about (you may not have to).  This is a small sacrafic to make in order to get free curriculum.  So far I like it...and so do the kids!

I really like the way that the program is organized!!!

(I think I'm I sucker for things that are organized:)

I like how it goes through sequentially and I really like the quizes after every few chapters.

So far, so good.

I'll keep you posted.

Reading: starfall.com

Starfall.com

An excellent place for fun reading activities.

Check out their FREE resources!




Thanks Linds!

Check out her blogs...

Hawaii coupon and grocery deals: www.alohadeals.blogspot.com

Disney Vacations: www.dealstodisney.com

FYI: Recommendations

I do not make a profit from any recommendations that I make. 

I'm just telling you what I do/use or find for FREE.

I'm not product pushing. 

Just sharing:)

Happy homeschooling!!!

Grammar: dailygrammar.com

www.dailygrammar.com

440 FREE Grammar Lessons, 88 Quizes

From their home page you can start the first lesson or

go to their "Archive" tag to access all of the lessons and quizes.

Awesome find!

Swag Bucks

Have you heard of "Swag Bucks?"

It's an online search engine.  As you use it (to do what you already do - search the internet) you earn "Swag Bucks."  These "bucks" can be used towards a gift card or other items/purchases.

I use my points for...Amazon.com gift cards. 

Can anyone say...FREE MONEY?

FREE MONEY =

FREE CURRICULUM/BOOKS =

happy mommy!

go to

swagbucks.com

and register to get started!

It gets even better  you can earn extra points by referring others.

time to start earning some SWAG!

Vocabulary from Classical Roots Series...FREE CURRICULUM

This is a curriculum recommendation from "The Well Trained Mind"

by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise

( I borrowed this book from my local library...FREE)

I was interested in purchasing a vocabulary curriculum series called "Vocabulary from Classical Roots".

  

It helps kids learn vocabulary by learning the Greek/Latin roots of words

and using the roots to decipher the meaning of the word

 rather than memorizing lengthy definitions.

I went to the publisher website.

http://eps.schoolspecialty.com/

I clicked vocabulary and found the curriculum series.

When you get there on the right hand side is "Free Resources."

Take a look...read carefully...YES! 

Download samples for...FREE!!! 
Time to party!

When you click the Free Resource link, this is what you see...

 You can download! 
Did I say it was time to party or what?!

Go to the "sample lesson" section.

Books go in the following order 4, 5, 6, A, B, C, D, E.

You can download 5, 6, A, C, E (missing 4, B, & D...not bad for free).

I got lucky and someone gave me B.  So I'm only missing 2 books (4, D).

First of all...
getting all of this info for free is a steal.

I can hear some of you saying...but...it's not the whole book and the series is incomplete. 

How can I use it as a curriculum?

I wrestled with this too until I figured it out.

What did I figure out?

1.  You don't really need the whole book.

I'll explain why you don't need the whole book (continue reading).

2. You don't really need all the books.

Let's think about it from a flexible point of view.  Would you or your kids "die" if you used an incomplete curriculum.  No!  We are so programmed to use something from beginning to end in fear that we are going to miss something in the middle.   Take a look at the picture from the outside.  Your kids use 5 out of the 8 books (and you don't have to pay a dime for it).  Something that they may not have used or learned other wise.  Is someone going to say, "'O my gosh?!  You only used 5 out of the 8 books?!"  No one is going to know...so...who cares if you didn't use all of the books?  It's not math (where doing things out of order might cause a problem).

Ok..so now what do I do?

1.  Download the table of contents and word lists for the books available.

2.  I recommend that you retype the word list in lesson order (each word has a # next to it.  it is the lesson number).  Latter you will match this up with the table of contents.  I said it was free...which means you will have to do a little work. I type out each book as I need it.

 Here is the best part...

This is generally how all of the lessons are set up

• root word introduction (for each group of words)
• related words (words from the chapter that correlate with that root) and their definition
• a few activities (synonym, antonym, incorrect usage, fill in the blank, etc.)
• review at the end of every couple of chapters

as you can see...you can get away with out having the whole book.

 Now what do I do?
Use it!

What do I do/How do I do it?

(we do 1-2 skills a day...varies by kid)

1. Read the words (together)
2. Copy/list the words
3. Group words with similarities together
4. Find the repeating pattern (root)
5. Find the definition/meaning of the root
6. Write the definitions for the list/chapter words (using a regular dictionary)
7. Look up synonyms & antonyms
8. Make flash cards (we break the words into prefix, root, suffix)
9. Practice the flashcards until all words are learned.  We try to use the words in daily conversations.
10. Use each word in a sentence (written)
11. Play a game with the words

They don't move to the next set of words until they master the one they are on

One more piece of info.

If you noticed...skill #5  says to find the definition/meaning of the root.  You will need a Greek/Latin root dictionary or some other sort of Greek/Latin resource.  I initially started out using wikipedia as a resource.  I have found it to be adequate.  I have found a few other random resources (I printed them out so I don't remember where I got them from...sorry). 

I'm not an expert at Greek or Latin...but I don't feel as if I need to be. 

We work together and figure things out the best we can.  Isn't that how the world works anyway?

happy vocabbing:)

Recommended Read: The Well Trained Mind

I loved reading "A Thomas Jefferson Education."

It answered all of my questions but...it doesn't necessarily give "specific" instructions on how to do things (in my opinion).

If you are looking for a resource that is more structured I recommend...

"The Well Trained Mind"

by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise

( I borrowed this book from my local library...FREE)

It gives you a step by step guide of what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.

One of the greatest things about this book is that it gives curriculum options.

Everyone has their own reason for liking what they like.

Multiple options are recommended (with explanations as to why)

 so that you can choose what you feel is best for your family.

This is what we generally follow.

Recommended Read: A Thomas Jefferson Educaiton

When I was first introduced to homeschooling I read

A Thomas Jefferson Education
by Oliver Demille.

I highly recommend reading it!

I borrowed it from a friend...so for me it was FREE. 

It had all the answers I was looking for.

Check this out...it has the "Look Inside!" feature on amazon.com

Publisher Free Resources

If you go to a curriculum company's web site sometimes they have free online resources. 

If you hear of a "good" product.  Always head over to their website and check out what they have available.

You may be pleasantly surprised!!!

FYI: Just to let you know...

I need to get this out there...

...so here goes.

Grammar, spelling, writing has never been my strength.  I actually think that I may be dyslexic (but undiagnosed).  I flip flop letters and words all the time.  I am a product of whole language.  I didn't learn about phonics (or learn phonics for that matter) until I went to college and had to learn it for one of my education classes.  Even then I wasn't so great at it.  Thank goodness I ended up teaching kindergarten and I guess you could say I learned it with the kids....lol (but yet, not so funny when you think about it).   Grammar also just isn't my thing.  I'm not necessarily one for details.

I'm pretty sure that I'm not making the greatest impression right now...but...guess what...who cares?  I'm not one for making impressions.  What you see it what you get.  Please don't be offended by my upfrontness (that is a word right?  Ok.  I know it's not because the spell check caught it...but I love that word so it gets to stay:). 

The focus is the information!
I'm not that great with getting things right the first time (especially in writing).  I've decided that I'm not going to stress over the errors.

I just want the information out there!

As long as you can read it and it makes sense that's good enough for me.  I'm hoping that it is good enough for you.  Also...in my defense.  I do homeschool 6 kids, provide service for my church, run a house, blog, make time for myself, love my husband, and ...HAVE A LIFE.  I really don't want to spend time agonizing over my writing (yes, it can be agonizing).

So...what you see is what you get.  Use the info and don't stress about my writing imperfections.

The way I look at it is...I don't think my education was the greatest but I learned what I needed to learn to survive and I didn't turn out all that bad (I like to think)...and now I'm focusing on the education of my children.

Aahhhhh...so glad I got that off my chest!

Time to move on...

Amazon.com

Did you know that on amazon.com they have a feature where you can take a look at parts of a book...for FREE.  It's their "Look Inside!" feature.  It is only available on select books.  But, they never show you all of the book (duh). 

They'll usually show you the beginning (which may include a table of contents) and/or the ending of the book.  Sometimes they'll even show you some other random part in the center/middle.
Why is this important?

This is a great FREE way to check out the contents of a book before purchasing it. 

It will save you time and money in purchasing a book that you think you might like or want only to find out that it isn't what you really need.  Then you have to ship it back and...blah, blah, blah... you know what I mean.

Goals

#1.  Provide you with as much FREE stuff as possible (curriculum, resources, ideas, etc.).

#2.  Share great deals that seem like steals...it's the next best thing to FREE.

Welcome

Welcome to homeschoolfree4u.blogspot.com.

Stay tuned!