I am so excited to be participating in the Virtual Curriculum Fair hosted by Homeschooling Hearts and Minds this year! There are nearly 30 bloggers participating in it! Each week in January there is a theme. I will be posting mine on Sundays so that I can still have my guest posts on Mondays. The main post on Homeschooling Hearts and Minds will go up each week on Mondays.
Here are the topics for the month:
January 7th---Playing with Words: the Language Arts
January 14th---Discovering Patterns: Mathematics, Logic, and Science
January 21st---Exploring Our World: Social Studies and more Science
January 28th---Seeking Beauty: the Arts and Everything that Brings Beauty to Our World
Today's topic is Playing With Words: The Language Arts. I love this topic!
First, I'll share the things we are using and enjoying:
First, I'll share the things we are using and enjoying:
The Language Arts Curriculum We Use:
The Phonics Road (I just posted a review on this program a few days ago)
Institute for Excellence in Writing (See my review here)
Foreign Languages:
Spanish using Speekee Spanish (see my review here)
Latin using Song School Latin and Prima Latina (see my review here)
A huge thing in our home is literature. We read together A LOT! Here is a link to a list of books that my son loves to read. Together as a family we love tread a lot of children's classics. Family reading time is very special to us!
But mostly...we like to PLAY WITH WORDS!
A huge thing in our home is literature. We read together A LOT! Here is a link to a list of books that my son loves to read. Together as a family we love tread a lot of children's classics. Family reading time is very special to us!
But mostly...we like to PLAY WITH WORDS!
Here are a few that I have shared in the past on my blog.
How Do You Play With Words?
Other bloggers who are participating in this week's Virtual Curriculum Fair:
Nurturing Novelists = Building Strong Writers by Susan
Anadale @
Homeschooling Hearts & Minds
Building Blocks of Education--Learning to
Read by Kristi Kerr @ The
Potter's Hand Academy
Our Language Arts Adventure by Linda @ Homeschooling6
2013 Virtual Curriculum Fair-Playing with Words:
The Language Arts by Leah Courtney @
As We Walk
Along the Road
Virtual Curriculum Fair ~ Language Arts by Dawn @
Guiding Light
Homeschool
Writing Help in a Critical Thinking book? by
Missouri Mama @ Ozark Ramblings
Words and Learning by Annette @ A Net In Time
Word Play by Lisa @ Golden
Grasses
Loving Language Arts by Kristen H. @ Sunrise to
Sunset
Learning Language Arts ~ 2012-2013 School Year by Laura O in AK @ Day by Day in Our World
Playing with Words: The Language Arts by
Christa Darr @
I've heard great things about Explode the Code, I've been thinking about using it for LA curriculum next year.
ReplyDeleteI ADORE that Alphabet Mat! Must make one!
Fun ideas! We use ETC and IEW as well.
ReplyDeleteinteresting to read what others do. :)
ReplyDeleteannette @ A net in Time
http://anetintimeschooling.weebly.com/a-net-in-time-blog.html
I love this!! I need to get more "fun" with my little ones. We're hoping to start The Phonics Road in the 2013/14 year, and I really enjoyed your review of it!
ReplyDeleteGood ideas. I'm stopping by from the curriculum fair to see what others are doing.
ReplyDeleteActually Playing, very good, especially for littles! Thank you for sharing with the Virtual Curriculum Fair!
ReplyDeleteGreat collection of ways to play with words! Thanks for linking up to Mom's Library!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you all are having fun with words. We like words too =)
ReplyDeleteLove hands-on activities and things for the right-brained visual learner. We have had luck with the games at Vocabulary Is Fun (www.vocabulary.co.il) They have all subjects, even foreign language.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing you cute ideas!
Joyfully,
Jackie
Just wanted to add two to your list. We have played "bean bag spelling". Rules are simple, toss the bean bag back and forth, spelling the words as you go, for older kids make it more complicated by having them hop, or switch from foot to foot as they spell. A second one, that is less physical but also a lot of fun is Learning Games for Kids (www.learninggamesforkids.com). There are a great number of language arts games there, my daughter enjoys them a great deal.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to check into the other things you suggested, thanks so much!
The Conventional Method
ReplyDeleteAn increasing number of children do not learn using the "Conventional Method" (workbooks, flashcards and lectures). There is a scientific reason for this. This method delivers in serial order through verbal media either in print or speech. Thus the Conventional Method unintentionally shuts down the right side of the brain.
Whole Brain Teaching
Movement of our body makes information flow from the left brain to right and back again at lightning velocity. Teaching to the whole brain. Total Physical Response has been found to be far more effective than the conventional method. Studies show that by physically involving the children in the learning process, children actually learn faster, retain more, drop out rates decrease by 90%, and it reduces stress (a major cause of learning disabilities) .