Here is a fun way to strengthen spelling skills and have fun at the same time.

 

What you need
To make your own Build a Word Game, all you need is index cards and multiple letters of the alphabet. For the letters of the alphabet you can use things such as; ScrabbleÔ game pieces, foam letters (that can be bought at most dollar stores) or simply cut out squares of heavy card stock paper and write the letters on yourself. You will also need to write  approximately 20 "word challenges" (see below for example) on  3x5 index cards. Now that you have your materials, lets get started!

How it works
Lay the alphabet letters in a pile between the players. The first player picks a "word challenge" card  and reads it out loud to the other players. Once he puts the card down, the race has begun! The players sift through the letters to see who can make a word that fit's the challenge first. For example, the word challenge card reads, "Something that is hot". One player may try to spell the word "stove", while another may spell the word "fire". The player that gets his word done first, then gets to keep the card. When there is no more cards left in the pile, the player that is holding the most, wins!

Tip! Give slower spellers a small head start to build their word.  For example, once the card is read,  the quick spellers must count to 5 before they can start building their word.

A sample of Word Challenges you can use!
Something that is hot.
An animal.
Something furry.
A mountain.
A word that starts with the letter "R".
A city.
A verb.
Something you put on pizza.
A girls name.
A color.
A tool used for building.
Something that gets wet.
A toy.
Something green.

Yes, a personalized memo board is adorable and would be a wonderful craft to make with your children and give as a gift. But they also make perfect individualized dry-erase boards for schooling! Personally, I hate using a large chalk or memo board and prefer something small that I can keep right at the table with me. This way, each child could have their own board, personalized with their special interests and colors or even with items they want to keep in mind for review on the back. The alphabet, cursive letters, periodic table, vocabulary words - there are all kinds of "memo" items you could have handy for reference on the back of your memo board. The sample below was made using  "plopper" or pre-made template. I just left the spot intended for a large picture blank. If this had been more than just a sample I would have made a larger writing area.

 

 

If you don't know how to make digital scrapbook pages, don't worry. Just make a regular page, with stickers and markers and take it in to be laminated. And if you REALLY want to keep it simple, how about sticking your decorated sheets of paper for the front and back in a sheet protector, with a thin piece of cardboard to make it stiff? What a fun idea!

I recently purchased my very first iPod. It's a pretty red 8GB Nano in a snazzy red (of course!) leather case. Now, I do like music, but couldn't see myself walking around the house with earphones hanging from my ears so it took some time before I became convinced that I could truly make use of this hi-tech gizmo. After reading a few homeschooling message boards where moms just like me were asking, "What do you use your iPod for??!!" I was convinced by the answers. Not only could I use one, but it could be a great addition to our homeschool.

 Ipods are an extremely efficient and convenient means of carrying a large selection of audio books in a tiny bit of space. You can download your current audiobook library - Story of the World CD's, Stories of Great Americans for Young Americans, etc - or individual stories and files from the internet.  A simple car adapter allows you to listen as you're traveling and portable speakers let you finish up inside once you get home. Your iPod automatically bookmarks where you left off and, believe it or not, if you're in a hurry, you can even increase the speed at which the books are read!  

 

Last week we mentioned Spring being a great time to work on those Nature Notebooks or Journals. If you're still not sure you understand the whole "notebook thing" NotebookPages.com has the answers. Here you'll find explanations, samples, ideas and more. Be sure and click on their Free Pages and Printables and Charts tabs for lots of fun goodies!

 

 

Below are a couple of the many web resources offering free podcasts and audiobooks. Whether you listen with your iPod, online or transfer to a CD, you'll enjoy this frugal learning fun.

 

Living Books for the Ears offers a variety of interesting and educational stories and books. Current offerings include Joan of Arc & the Endless Story, Michelangelo and the Chapel Ceiling and Dick Whittington and His Cat. Check back often as there is a new story each week and old ones rotate out.

 

StoryNory.com boasts literally hundreds of stories and audio books. Fairy tales, myths, fables and more. Take a look in their extensive archives.