Monthly Book List

I wanted to start a monthly book list at the beginning of the year, but due to time constraints I just haven't pulled one together yet.  Well, May is as good a time as any to get the ball rolling!  So here is our list for the month:



Mr. Popper's Penguins by: Richard and Florence Atwater (to wrap up our Antarctica study)
(I also grabbed the Literature Unit from Confessions of a Homeschooler for some added fun!)
Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner
Sarah, Plain and Tall by: Patricia MacLachlan
Antarctica: Journey to the Pole by: Peter Lerangis (another one I found for our Antarctica Study)
I Will Rejoice by: Karma Wilson (a springtime favorite!)
Barnyard Song by: Rhonda Gowler Greene
Book! Book! Book! by: Deborah Bruss
The Children of the King by: Max Lucado
Hugs and Kisses by: Christopher Loupy
Love Your Neighbor: Short Stories of Values and Virtues by: Arthur Dobrin
Library Lion by: Michelle Knudsen
The Kissing Hand by: Audrey Penn
The Emperor's Egg by: Jane Chapman
Seashore Animals by: Michael Chinery
What is a Marsupial? A Bobbie Kalman Book
Seeds! Seeds! Seeds! by: Nancy Elizabeth Wallace (hoping to do some planting this month!)
Time for a Hug by: Phillis Gershator
I'm as Quick as a Cricket by: Audrey Wood
Hush, Little Ones by: John Butler
Bless Me by: Grace Maccarone
Hush Little Baby by: Sylvia Long (I LOVE this version!)

Math Fun - Part 2

My Fact Family Houses post has continued to be a very popular post.  As it has also continued to be a popular activity here in our home.  So, I decided to come up with a more permanent set up for making fact family houses.  Something that might help keep the focus on the actual fact families. 




Fact Family House File Folder Kit

You can read the original Fact Family Houses post here.
 

This file folder kit comes with:

a front cover sheet, title strip, & directions for playing the file folder game

the house page

a set of number tiles

a description of how to construct the file folder game



Math Fun - Part 1

Basic math facts are a key component of early math.  Later math learning will be so much easier if the basic math facts are down pat.  Yet, learning math facts can sometimes be a struggle.  Some kids take great to the flash card method.  Others "see" math better though manipulatives.   Others might find songs to be a help in getting those math facts drilled in.  And sometimes a variety of concepts is need before these facts are committed to memory.  The great thing about math is that there are so many fun ways to practice these math facts.

 

Our newest practice is these Addition Charts.  My goal with these charts was to help my children "see" the numbers and how they work together. 

 

The charts were made to be cut apart, so that only one sum is focused on at one time.  Then, the child can work with manipulatives, finger counting, etc. to fill in the chart with all the possible addends for that sum.