Mead

I don't know if you have seen some of the new products put out by "Mead"...but I love them! They now have a "Early Writing & Activity Book" line. One of my favorites is the "Color Bound" book. It features simple coloring pages with thick black lines that are raised. This teaches the child that there is a boundary while coloring and helps them learn how to stay in the lines. Now you can make pages like this on your own buy taking Elmer's glue and tracing lines with it and then letting it dry...but, let's face it, this is easier.

They also have writing tablets that are similar to "Handwriting without Tears". Be sure to check them out:

http://www.meadonline.com/Products/EarlyWriting.aspx

I've seen them at Target and Staples so far. Happy shopping!

Letter of the Week Activities

Someone posted this blog on one of my groups. It is a blog of "Letter of the Week" activities. I love it already. I have been doing some simple ones with Yan, but this will give me many more ideas. Enjoy!

http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/search?q=letter

You Tube & Homeschooling!

I have been blessed with a little girl that is a very visual andkinesthetic learner. She does great with songs and motions. RecentlyI started looking up various topics/things on "You Tube" to show her.She's interested in musical instruments, so often she'll sit and watchkids practicing/playing a variety of instruments on there. Thisweekend I took some time to sit and go through You Tube and came upwith a list of different video clips that we may use during our"Circle Time". There are songs for the alphabet, shapes, days, etc.Some of them may not be your style, but I thought I would share incase anyone else might be interested!

4 Seasons:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDibYC-PHlA&feature=channel
Counting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxPfPyYp84E&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9EgE_JtEAw
Signing Time Counting 1-10:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGHLvfw4bvg&feature=related
Alphabet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XEN4vtH4Ic&feature=channel
Wee Hands Alphabet Song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TYeqrDLHUc&NR=1
ASL/ABC song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMQHd1UBkeI
Signing Time Alphabet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6wPu8PTDqc
Signing Time A is for Alligator Song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H14d5vG9ehs&feature=related
Learn with Caroline-ABC’s, Days of the week, Listen & Obey:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMTFq3vBidw
Weather:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ja4j4ltnRw&feature=related
Colors:
Signing Time-Colors of the Rainbow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnG-7w54LfE
Days of the Week:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V1OarFa8-Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po32PQoPcMI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ont22tMm6jQ
Shapes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj-Z3f2pdCE
Coin Song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk_6-pFkugU
States & Capitals:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo1CK77pp5E&videos=iqVVXmQN5d8&playnext_from=TL&playnext=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k87N8K-nKLo&feature=related
Nations & Flags:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfMriL_s5ZM&feature=related
Parts of the Brain:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li5nMsXg1Lk&feature=related
Presidents:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24fUMKq54u4&feature=related
Simple Songs:
5 Little Monkeys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhODBFQ2-bQ&NR=1
Happy & You Know It:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrsM9WggCdo

Welcome!

I'm beginning this blog to document some of the ideas, resources, strategies, successes and flops of homeschooling my daughter. I am a single mom of the fabulous Emily Yan! I adopted Yan from Hong Kong when she was almost four years old. She is "chromosomally enhanced" (aka, has Down Syndrome) and is the light of my life!

Yan is beginning to speak, she has around 100 verbal words, but knows over 500 signs (Thank you "Signing Time"!). I am homeschooling for many reasons including: One-on-one instruction, keeping Christ in every part of our days and lives, behavioral/attachment issues, and many other reasons. I am a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist. I work 2 1/2 days a week doing home health/private therapy and homeschool around my schedule.

Come join our journey. Get some tips, leave some tips...just join the fun!

Blessings,
Jenn