Road School Resources

Welcome to the World of Homeschooling!

2020-03-21T07:32:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone! Welcome to the world of homeschooling! Some of you are most likely comfortable with this new world of education; but many of you may be questioning how you will begin educating your kids at home. You may feel overwhelmed, and maybe worried. Well, here's some good news; you don't have to.

You as parents are facilitators of your child's education. What does that mean? It means that there are hundreds of resources out there, including, hopefully, your chid's classroom teacher, that can provide educational activities and materials. Your job is to support that learning, just like you have always done.

It can be very overwhelming jumping in, without any plan to do so, and feel the full brunt of the responsibility of being an educator. But I am here to help. I have elementary teaching degrees in three states and over 30 years of teaching experience, including 8 years of homeschool. This does not mean that I have all of the answers; and that's why a community of people works best when we try to help others.

So, if you are feeling that stress about being your child's primary educator, and want a place to go for advice, ideas, and community, please visit often. Let's get together and enjoy this time with our kids. It can be an amazing memory for them, and us, filled with wonderful learning opportunities.

Earth Day!

2019-03-31T08:23:00.004-07:00

Get ready for Earth Day!

Earth Color Fun page!

Click Above for a Fun and Meaningful Math page to help Celebrate Earth Day!

Check out this Video about Earth Day History

What can YOU do for our EARTH?

2019-01-10T19:24:00.001-08:00

Hey all. Don't forget to check out Education.com for some awesome worksheets to supplement your lessons or add some extra practice!

Download these free worksheets!

They are aMAZE-ing!

Maze

Answer

Find MORE Math games HERE.

Colorado Mining Towns

2018-04-15T12:15:00.000-07:00

Mining for Silver and Gold

Between the towns of Victor and Cripple Creek in Colorado lies the Newmont Mining Company, a major employee for the area, besides the casinos.

Can you tell what this used to be?

Bonus fact: deleted scene in Rudolph that you never knew existed.
Axe-Licking Scene Explained: CLICK HERE

The Town of Victor, CO, is an historic Gold Mining Town...undergoing a reformation.

ice rink

Harry Potter Time!

2016-08-15T11:56:00.000-07:00

My oldest son was a huge Harry Potter fan about 5 years ago. His interest was recently re-sparked when my 10-year old twins started reading the books. We attended a Harry Potter night (4 hours!) at Barnes & Noble for the release of the newest book; Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Since then, everything has been Harry Potter this and Harry Potter that. Lego Hogwarts; cloak wearing; spell writing; wand making; and book reading. With school about to start up again, I thought I'd incorporate their interst-du-jour into our learning. I'll add more as the year progresses.

Butter Beer

Lots of recipes online. Don't need to get too fancy for fun.

Teacher Vision Harry Potter Activities

We did this and it was SO fun! Happened to have a pack of chopsticks already (from the one time I tried to use them many moons ago). Kids loved this project.

Harry Potter Wand Making

Monster Book of Monsters.

This was fun!

Arithmancy

Arithmancy is a magical discipline that studies

the magical properties of numbers, including predicting the future with numbers and numerology.

Those who practised Arithmancy were called Arithmancers.

Check out Pottermore.

Cooking it up with Harry Potter!!

We had fun making some of these!

Harry Potter Science!

More Harry Potter Science!

What are some Harry Potter themed

activities

you like to do?

Email us!

Place Value

2015-10-30T15:27:00.004-07:00

Why Teach Place Value?

To understand place value is to understand the structure and sequence of our base ten number system. As students count, interpret the values of written and spoken numbers, decide which number is larger or smaller, and explore relationships among numbers, they are developing a picture of our number system.

FREE Place Value Charts

Place Value Chart ($0.35)

FREE Printable Base Ten Blocks

Teaching Place Value

Place Value Activity Package

Make Your Own Place Value Practice Board

Printable Place Value Flip Book

Place Value Number Generator with Cups

Sheppard Software Place Value Games

Place Value Card Game:

Make it Texas or Rhode Island Sized!

Decimal Place Value Card Game

Place Value Yahtzee!!!

TANGRAMS!

2015-10-28T18:34:00.000-07:00

Tangrams are an ancient puzzle that has stayed relevant through time.

And they are really fun to learn with, too.

What are Tangrams?

Tangrams are a Chinese puzzle consisting of a square cut into five triangles, a square, and a rhomboid, which can be combined so as to form a great variety of other figures.

Why Tangrams?

What the experts say.

Tangrams and More

Tangram Puzzles

Grandfather Tang's Story YouTube

The Tangram Channel

OSMO Tangrams

Mathwire Tangrams

Tangram Game (PBS)

MathPlayground Tangrams

Tangrams on the Road!

Tangrams Plus

Spelling Words

2015-10-23T16:47:00.002-07:00

Spelling

Do you recall those Friday Spelling Tests? You studied all week, or not, took the test, then pushed that spelling list right out of your head, to make way for next week's words.

As a first and second grade teacher, I gave the requisite spelling tests every Friday, too. I hated giving them as much as the kids (most) hated taking them. I tried a few different methods over the years...

Gave a list of 20 words, 10 of which would be tested...study them all, for you don't know which ten!

Changed the format from a list of words to 5 sentences. This tested for not only proper spelling of the list words, but also common sight words, punctuation, capitalization, handwriting, and listening skills. A rubric determined the grade.

Peer-tests: teacher monitored tests given by partners. Less a grade-taking format than study skill practice.

As much as I find the Friday Spelling Test pointless and not at all conducive to becoming a better speller, I place high importance on the skill of knowing how to spell and using words properly. The written word is often a person's first impression that others receive. Poor spelling may not reflect the intelligence a person truly has; but, unfortunately, can give the impression it is lacking. I myself cringe when I make a spelling error, and implore you to point one out when you see I've made one. And you will!

So, as a road schooler or home schooler, how do you tackle Spelling? Organically, hoping what's needed is picked up along the way? Reading can occur this way, so spelling sure can, too. But be sure to monitor your child's writing. If you notice many consistent spelling errors, some word work might be beneficial.

Here are some sites; activities; ideas; and general spelling fun!

60 Ways to Practice Spelling!

Spellingcity.com

Out of the Box Spelling Activities

Putting words into Alphabetical Order
forces kids to look at the letters.

If you can find this font cheap (only compatible with Windows), it's great for making sheets to work on spelling skills. I used to have it in my classroom. Wish I still had it. Amazon sells it, as well as Crossbow Education (click the photo), but it's pricey. Be wary of downloading any similar fonts from the internet.

This is a nice book for writing and to check spelling of common, highly used words,

without having to use a dictionary. Different levels.

Love this! You make your own or buy here.

Another way to study and learn.

Free Spelling Word Lists: Gradespelling.com

Pay Spelling Site: Spellingclassroom.com

Journaling on the Road

2015-10-20T16:02:00.000-07:00

Keeping a journal doesn't have to be a chore.

As a child records adventures and thoughts, she is creating a book of memories!

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Ideas for entries:

What I did today.

Something I learned today.

I wonder...

(It's ok not to have an idea, too.

Sometimes writing about no idea will create an idea.)

Topics do not have to be broad. Specific topics can create great stories. Telling a story about one, small piece of the day; adding details; and creating a visual, written account, makes for great storytelling.

Broad Topic

(Our Trip to Death Valley.)

Smaller Topic

(Scotty's Castle in Death Valley)

Even Smaller Topic

(Scotty's Castle has a water wheel to generate electricity.)

Specific Topic

(My brother Bill helped the Park Ranger work the Venturi Water Wheel at Scotty's Castle in Death Valley.)

Picture an inverted triangle...with the broad topic at the top, and the topics gradually getting smaller and more specific as you drop down to the point.

Kids can get the hang of this with practice.

Skip using the first several pages to create a

Table of Contents that can be filled in as

entries are made.

Number each page along the way.

Save the back section of the book

(perhaps 3 or 4 pages)

for Topic ideas

that your child can generate

and add to whenever an idea hits him.

Glue in a child-generated or downloaded Words I Use page or two. These would be common words that may be tough to spell but used often in writing.

Besides drawing pictures of experiences,

thoughts, places, etc., glue photographs;

tickets; brochures; fliers; booklets;

or any other item that will spark a story.

To keep the interest level up, and to stay involved with your child's writing, have a family response page after each entry. Your child writes, passes the book to a family member, who then adds a response. Perhaps answers a question, or shares a memory of their own.

Have a Journal Sharing day once a week with family or other children. Sharing writing is the most fun!

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Other writing ideas...

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The Right Book

Here are some examples. Books usually cost, on average, $2 - $7.

Google search Primary Composition Book.

There are variations in the line size so find the size that best fits your little one's skill level.

Staples Primary Composition Book

Lakeshore Learning Primary Composition Book

Amazon.com

Blank journals are nice, as well.

Or the traditional scrapbook works well.

Just write or type on paper and paste in with photos and other memorabilia.

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The Right Writing Tools

Having a great empty journal just waiting for fantastic stories isn't enough. Those stories and illustrations need to be written with the best tools!

pencils
pens
markers
crayons
colored pencils
glitter pens

not to mention...

glue sticks
colored paper
stickers
scissors
stapler
ruler

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Common Words List

And, to never lose your place, a bookmark!

Of course, kids these days can even start their own blog!

2015-10-19T19:44:00.001-07:00

Check out our Facebook Page!

Road School Resources

FACEBOOK PAGE

The Technical Part of Reading

2015-10-14T21:06:00.000-07:00

What is Phonological Awareness?

The understanding that speech is composed of

sub-parts --

sentences are comprised of words,

words are comprised of syllables,

syllables are comprised of onsets and rimes,

and

can be further broken down to phonemes.

The girl picked the flower.

flower = flow • er

fl ower (p ower, sh ower)

fl ow er

What are Phonemes?

The vocal gestures from which words are constructed in a language;

the smallest unit of speech that serves to distinguish one utterance from another

(e.g. PAT and FAT are distinguished

by the initial phoneme).

What is Phonemic Awareness?

A subset of phonological awareness;

the knowledge that spoken words consist

of a sequence of individual sounds,

and the understanding that phonemes

are rearranged and substituted

to create new words.

There are a finite set of phonemes

which are arranged and rearranged

to create an infinite set of spoken words.

Glossary of Reading Terms

What teachers can do to help at school

Learn all about phonemes (there are more than 40 speech sounds that may not be obvious to fluent readers and speakers).
Make sure the school's reading program and other materials include skill-building in phonemes, especially in kindergarten and first grade (these skills do not come naturally, but must be taught).
If children are past the age at which phonemic awareness and phonological skill-building are addressed (typically kindergarten through first or second grade), attend to these skills one-on-one or in a small group. Ask your school's reading specialist for help finding a research-based supplemental or intervention program for students in need.
Identify the precise phoneme awareness task on which you wish to focus and select developmentally appropriate activities for engaging children in the task. Activities should be fun and exciting – play with sounds, don't drill them.
Make sure your school's reading program and other materials include systematic instruction in phonics.
Consider teaching phonological and phonemic skills in small groups since students will likely be at different levels of expertise. Remember that some students may need more reinforcement or instruction if they are past the grades at which phonics is addressed by a reading program (first through third grade).

http://www.readingrockets.org/helping/target/phonologicalphonemic#do_parents

The 44 Phonemes

Reading Lesson

2015-10-14T20:29:00.000-07:00

READING ACTIVITY

Here's an activity I used with my twins when they first started reading. I used the magnetic lower case letters (vowels are red and consonant are blue).

On my computer, I wrote the word family using Penmanship Print Font. I am provided a link to a download but please be aware of malware of other sites. (dafont has malware associated with it). I CANNOT guarantee this site doesn't have it, but I downloaded my font from this site a few years ago.

We added a beginning sound (onset) to each ending word family (rime) to create a new word. Then the kids each took turns typing it onto the screen. At the start of every lesson, we reviewed the last word family lists before starting a new list.

FREE FONT: http://fontzone.net/font-details/penmanship-print

Kids can write words in a Reading Notebook, or on flash cards, or just read lists from computer. Repetition is beneficial.

This is a game you can play On The Road, too. Say a word family (rime) and ask the kids to give a beginning sound (onset) which can be a singular consonant or a blend.

You can extend the lesson by asking your child to write a sentence in her Reading Notebook using one of the words, and then illustrating her thought. This shows you that your child understands the meaning and proper use of a word.

Onset — The part of the syllable that precedes the vowel of a syllable. In the case of multi-syllabic words, each syllable has an onset. For example; the onset of the word PILL is /p/.

Rime — The part of a syllable (not a word) which consists of its vowel and any consonant sounds that come after it.

2015-10-13T22:08:00.001-07:00

Welcome to our new site for all things road school resources. We are just starting up, so please bear with us, and visit often for new links and ideas.

Freebies For Fall

2015-10-13T19:16:00.003-07:00

Happy Autumn!

Have fun with these freebies!

Click to download the .pdf

or visit website!