End of the Year Assessment Packages

The end of the school year is quickly approaching which means that your child's end of the year assessment package is almost due. Please send your packages to my personal address before or on June 13th. Following are the items that I would like to see included in your package:

Standard Program Grades 1-3 - (Accelerated Christian Education curriculum)
All completed Pace tests
All corresponding supplement activities (Math, Science, Social Studies)
Writing activities that corresponded with the conference calls.
Visual Art samples (take pictures of 3-D art and send along with package)
PE Log (for quarter 4)
Work Habits Form (this form will be emailed to parents on Monday, June 2)


Standard Program -Kindergarten - (Accelerated Christian Education curriculum)
The last completed pace in each of the subject areas (Word Building, English, Math, Science, and Social Studies)
Visual Art samples (take pictures of 3-D art and send along with package)
PE Log (for quarter 4)
Work Habits Form (this form will be emailed to parents on Monday, June 2)


Individualized Program - (Individualized choices of curriculum)
4 Language Arts samples (i.e. test, quiz, workbook, journal, story, poetry writing, reading log, letter) *** please include some creative writing samples if possible.
4 Math samples
(i.e. test, quiz, math drill, worksheets)
4 Science samples
(i.e. test, quiz, experiment log, observation journal, workbook)
4 Social Studies samples
(i.e. test, quiz, project, report, journal)
Visual Art samples (take pictures of 3-D art and send along with portfolio)
PE Log (for term 3 )
Work Habits Form (this form will be emailed to parents on Monday, June 2)

Just for a Smile

To view a larger version of this cartoon, click here: Homeschooling Funny

M is for Maple

M is for Maple: A Canadian Alphabet was sent to many grade 2 students during the past year as a supplement resource. Typically, the supplement materials are yours to keep, however this particular resource has recently gone out of print. Since grade 2 students will be needing this resource next year, please return it to Mrs. Holder at the end of the year along with your end of year portfolio package. Your account will be reimbursed once it is received. Thanks so much for your cooperation.

Story Writing Jumpstarts

This month I am encouraging students to get creative by putting a pencil and paper together and writing a short story. Each student's story will look different depending on their grade and writing ability. During the April conference call, students were encouraged to complete a story plan and then use their story plan as a guideline for writing a story. However, the story plan concept may not work well for all students, especially those who are struggling in the area of writing. During the past week I have been on a quest to find other ways to prompt story writing and I feel that my quest has been successful. Following are some innovative ideas to get started with story writing. I hope that they will be an encouragement to both you and your child.

Writing Idea #1 - Round Robin Stories - Using a round robin strategy for story writing can help motivate the unmotivated writer. It also works well with children who are just learning to write. In a round robin strategy, the first writer starts the story and then passes it along to the next writer who continues it. The story continues to be passed between writers until it is completed. The amount of writing done during each turn is usually pre-determined before the story writing begins. For more round robin story writing ideas click here: Round Robin Writing

Writing Idea #2 - Picture Prompts - Story writing needs to start with an idea and sometimes that's the hardest part. Pictures from magazines, newspapers or a personal photograph collection can be used to jump start creative ideas. Pictures of people can encourage character ideas, pictures of places can encourage setting ideas, and pictures of action can encourage plot ideas. Here's a website that has some picture prompts available. You can check it out here: Picture Prompts

Writing Idea #3 - KidsCom Write Me a Story Contest - At the KidsCom website there is a neat story writing opportunity for children. Children are encouraged to write a story using the provided character, prop, and place prompts. Children can submit their stories online where they will be voted on by other children and then possibly published on the KidsCom website. Click here to see the writing prompts for this week: KidsCom Write Me a Story

Writing Idea #4 - Comic Strip Story - If your child loves to draw, then a comic strip story may be a hit. A comic strip still includes all of the story elements (characters, setting, problem, solution, etc.)but the pictures play a larger role in the telling of the story. A comic strip story needs to be planned out well. A good place to start is by folding a piece of paper in half (hot dog style) and then folding it in half twice more to create 8 boxes. In each box your child can plan a story by writing little notes about what will be happening in each box of the comic strip. Have fun with this one!

Writing Idea #5 - Model a Story - Have your child choose a favorite story to use as a guideline or model for his own story writing. For example, many stories include a journey of some sort. Encourage your child to think of a starting place, an ending place, and a problem that may occur along the way. Most stories end with some sort of resolution, and so should your child's. :)

Writing Idea #6 - Tell a Story - The mind of a child is bursting with ideas. However the task of putting the ideas on paper can often be laborious. Encourage your child to think about a story and practice telling it orally. Then have your child tell the story to a tape recorder. During short periods of writing, have your child write out the recorded story editing and revising as needed.

That's all the ideas I have for now. If you have any story writing ideas that have worked for you and your child, then please share in the comment area at the bottom of this post.

Have fun with your kids this month as a little bit of their imagination shows up on paper!

Math Delights

I would like to share with you a few Math websites that may help to reinforce, or present in a new way, Math concepts that your child is learning.

The first website is HUGE and is created by a fellow British Columbian. It is called Crazy 4 Math and is definitely worth your time to browse through. Below I have highlighted a few pages on the website that may be of particular interest to you:

If contests help to motivate your child, then check this one out:
Crazy 4 Math Contest

A seemingly endless list of resources and Math links can be found here:
Math Resources

To read about some neat Math ideas, peruse the following blog written by the founder of Crazy 4 Math:
Crazy 4 Math Blog


Following are two websites that focus on Multiplication.

This link will take you to some fun multiplication practice using online interactive games:
Multiplication Online Games

This link will take you to a review on a multiplication resource called "Times Tales":
Times Tales
I have heard great murmurings about this curriculum but haven't directly seen it's results. If any of you are familiar with it, then please leave a comment at the bottom of this post.

Enjoy and Blessings!

Visual Art Ideas

If Spring is budding some creative blossoms for you and your child, then here are some ideas for you! Simply click on the name of the artwork to link to the instructions.

Perspective for Kids - Street Scene
An simple collage that creates a great 3-D effect.

Wet Chalk Drawings
Use wet chalk dipped in paint to create an outlined image.

Q-tip Pointillism
"Color" an image using just dots. Could be a challenge!

Enjoy!