Enrichmints

learning at home

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:54:00 +0000

A new school year has started, and I hope to be more consistent about posting here as we're getting back into our routine. I was happy to see "The public school parent's guide to home learning" at Simple Mom by Megan Tietz today and highly recommend it to any parents interested in encouraging home learning and creating an enriching learning environment at home. Tietz says:

Many families do all that we can to foster and nurture learning in the earliest years of a child’s life, as well we should. But when our children begin spending their days in the classroom, we aren’t off the hook! Continuing to build a home where learning is nurtured and valued is one of the best ways we can equip our children for life after graduation.

Read the rest here, and please share it with the school parents you know.

Pretzels in a Bag

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 02:46:00 +0000

My daughter made these yummy, soft Pretzels in a Bag in Cloverbuds at a recent 4-H meeting. They were so good we got the recipe from the leader so we could make them at home (I think it's from Extension). It's also a good way to involve kids in the kitchen.

1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. whole-wheat flour
1 Tbsp. quick-rising yeast (1 package)
1 tsp. sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. canola oil
3/4 c. plus 2 Tbsp. warm water
1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese, optional
1 egg, optional
Coarse salt, optional

Combine flour, yeast, sugar and 3/4 tsp. salt in a large zip-close bag. Close the bag and shake. Add canola oil and warm water to the dry ingredients in the bag. Close and mix well. Roll dough on floured surface and knead. Add flour if sticky. Divide the dough into six pieces. Roll each piece between hands to form a ropelike shape that is 12 inches long. Form into a pretzel and place on a greased baking sheet. Let rest for 10 minutes. Brush lightly with water or beaten egg. Sprinkle with salt or grated cheese if desired. Bake in a preheated 400-degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:22:00 +0000

I read about Little Free Library in the GeekMom post Creating Tiny Libraries Everywhere and think it's a wonderful idea! What a fun way to build community and encourage reading. Just build or purchase a "little library" box, add around 20 books, and spread the word. I would like to do this in our community.

(Photo courtesy of Little Free Library Facebook page.)

Grammar Girl ebook

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 02:32:00 +0000

I'm a fan of Grammar Girl's podcasts and books and think her simple, entertaining grammar explanations and language tips are helpful for kids as well as adults. Her ebook Grammar Girl’s Punctuation 911: Your Guide to Writing it Right is currently available for Kindle for only 99 cents. The information was previously published in her book Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing, which I own and even use occasionally for my job as an editor.

Me, Myself, and I

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:38:00 +0000

Learning grammar comes more easily to some students—and their parents—than others. I really enjoyed Renee LaTulippe's post There's Nothing Wrong with ME, a comical look at a usage error I see and hear frequently and that's one of my pet peeves. You can find more of Renee's helpful Adventures in Language posts, some of which also feature the The Chipmunk of Doom, here.

(Disclosure: I am an affiliate of All About Learning Press, where the blog post linked to above is hosted. All opinions shared on this blog are my own, and I have not received any compensation for recommending this post or the website.)

Back-Seat Book Club: The Phantom Tollbooth

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:04:00 +0000

NPR recently launched its Back-Seat Book Club for kids ages 9 to 14.

The book selection for November is Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Parents are asked to read the book with their kids and share what their family thought of the book here.

I've been meaning to do The Phantom Tollbooth as a read-aloud with my daughters and plan to join the conversation this month.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:57:00 +0000

The teach mama blog is an excellent resource for afterschoolers and homeschoolers. For preschool and early elementary students this fall, I like this idea for a leafy outdoor alphabet hunt.

Vets on Call

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:06:00 +0000

If your child is as interested in becoming a veterinarian as mine is, you might want to check out the YouTube reality series Veterinarians On Call. Dr. Peter Ostrum, one of the featured vets, is better known as the original Charlie Bucket in the 1971 movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

making your home a "learning home"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:02:00 +0000

I enjoyed A Learning Home from the Sonlight blog. We have maps in our living room and kitchen, and educational games, books in practically every room in the house, and a variety of craft supplies in easy reach. What do you have in your home to inspire your kids and promote learning?

A learning home cultivates an environment that encourages and stimulates education, intellectual curiosity, and wonder about the world.

project-based learning

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:30:00 +0000

GeekMom has an interesting post about project-based learning—a form of afterschooling.

Gina Clifford, the post's author, said:

Child-led project-based home learning is most similar to unschooling in that there are no tests, no teachers, no homework, no grades, no desks, no worksheets, no schedules, and no set curriculum. Instead, there is a project, chosen by the child and supported by the parent. However, when math or physics is needed, learners take time to learn the formulas, arithmetic, and methods applicable to the project. This on-the-job approach makes the fact-based portion of learning much more relevant and interesting. Best of all, project-based inquiry provides many opportunities for deep learning on a topic.

Do your children do project-based home learning? What types of projects are they working on?

Online Grammar and Writing Handbooks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:42:00 +0000

Scott Foresman Reading offers free Online Grammar and Writing Handbooks for grades one through six.

The books were removed from the site recently and are now back up, so you might want to get them now in case they are taken down again.

math fact CDs

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 22:23:00 +0000

I regularly get ideas for craft projects from Crayola.com, and I subscribe to the Crayola email newsletter. Since my girls will both be working to master math facts this year—one for addition/subtraction and the other for multiplication/division—I'm always looking for creative alternatives to flashcards. I plan to have them try out the Fancy Math Facts craft.

Around the World ebook

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:49:00 +0000

Until the end of the day, you can download Terri Johnson's Around the World: Learning More About Our Globe One Country at a Time from Knowledge Quest. This 120-page PDF ebook is geared specifically to homeschoolers but looks like a good resource for any families interested in country unit studies.

Education.com activities

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 22:30:00 +0000

I highly recommend Education.com to parents with students in grades preschool through high school. The site offers a variety of grade-based science, math, reading, and arts and crafts activities; science fair project ideas; worksheets; and articles about education and learning. You can see some of the sites featured activities in the widget below. Parent Involvement in Education: 4 Key Tips is a recent article that shares ways that parents can get more involved in their kids' education.

Education.com also recently released the Fun Finder mobile app. I have not had a chance to look at it yet, but when I do I will post a review here.

Education.com Activities

Activities for Kids

Kindle freebies

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 22:15:00 +0000

I love my Kindle, and I love how many free books I'm able to add to it. My favorite source for finding out about free books is Pixel of Ink.

They've recently posted about several non-fiction titles related to education and homeschooling/afterschooling. You can find Pixel of Ink's pages tagged homeschool or education to see individual posts about the books they have tagged in each category.

Several of the educational Kindle books I downloaded recently include:

Grammatically Correct (Anne Stilman)

The Everything Guide to Study Skills (Cynthia C. Muchnick)

Latin for Beginners (Benjamin L. DeOoge)

(I also grabbed The Everything Guide to Algebra by Christopher Monahan during the limited time it was free, but it is back to the regular price now.)

Note: Free Kindle book deals can change at any time without notice, so make sure the Kindle price says $0.00 before you click Buy. If you see something you are even a little interested in or think you might be able to use another time or when your student is older, be sure to "buy" it when it's free!

Purdue OWL

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:00:00 +0000

The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) is an excellent online resource for teaching students how to write. The site includes teaching resources; guides for MLA and APA formatting; writing exercises covering grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, and other topics; and other basic tips for different levels and types of writing.

Oreo Cookie Moon Phases

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 18:58:00 +0000

(Photo reposted with permission from sciencebob.com.)

I joined Pinterest a couple of months ago and have found some great ideas there for educational activities, crafts, and other hands-on projects that I can do with my kids. One activity I saw on Pinterest that I knew I would have to do with my kids is Science Bob's Oreo Cookie Moon Phases activity.

Go to the Science Bob Blog here to find out how to do the activity. Visit sciencebob.com for more great science activities and resources!

Perseids

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 01:37:00 +0000

Peak viewing for the Perseid meteor shower this year is between August 12 and 13, though it likely will be hampered somewhat by a full moon. If you aren't able to watch any "shooting stars" with the kids in your area because of overcast skies, you might want to check NASA's live video and audio feed below or at this link.

"Make plans to chat with NASA astronomer Bill Cooke and his team from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center as they answer your questions about the Perseids via live Web chat. Join them on Friday, Aug. 12 at 11 p.m. EDT—03:00 UTC GMT—then make plans to stay "up all night" until 5:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday, Aug. 13."

Live video from your Android device on Ustream

National Geographic Kids deal

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:01:00 +0000

From August 11 to 16, you can get an instant voucher for a one-year subscription (10 issues) to National Geographic Kids magazine from Mamasource for $12. Go here for more information.

on home educators

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 19:53:00 +0000

"Every involved parent is a home educator." (Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise, The Well-Trained Mind)

This does not mean that all parents are homeschoolers nor that homeschooling, afterschooling, and involved parenting are exactly the same. It does mean, however, that all parents have a primary role in the education of their children and are key players in directly teaching and instructing them. The roles, practices, and needs of homeschoolers and afterschoolers may differ but they overlap in many ways. I hope to highlight those commonalities and areas of mutual interest here at Enrichments.

Carnival of Homeschooling

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:55:00 +0000

A great resource for homeschoolers and afterschoolers is the weekly Carnival of Homeschooling, which features blog posts about a variety of topics relevant to home education that are organized around a central theme of the host's choosing. The focus of the carnival is homeschooling, of course, but many of the ideas and resources shared apply to afterschoolers, too.

Visit this week's Hand-Crafted Education edition, hosted by Homespun Juggling. To learn how to submit a post, go here or click the button above.

Introducing Enrichmints

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:07:00 +0000

(Photo by Andrew Magill.)

Parents are kids' first—and arguably their most influential—teachers. Studies have shown that parental involvement is important to student success.

Enrichmints are hacks, ideas, resources, activities, and tips you can use to to enrich your children's education and help them learn.

The purpose of Enrichmints is to share ideas for educational enrichment and to encourage and empower parents to teach their children and be actively involved in their education, whether they’re homeschooled or public- or private-schooled.

Though any parent who wants to be involved in their children's education can find tips here, Enrichmints especially target afterschoolers—parents who supplement their children's public or private education with intentional learning enrichment at home.