Picture Dictionary Long A - Donnette Davis - TeachersPayTeachers.com

Picture Dictionary Long A - Donnette Davis - TeachersPayTeachers.com

This book includes Teacher/Parent notes, handwriting practice, letter, picture and word identification, dictionary work, wordsearches, puzzles, mazes, coloring in pages, rhymes and quizzes.

Free eBook - Alphabet Tracing and Sequencing - Donnette Davis - TeachersPayTeachers.com

Alphabet Tracing and Sequencing - Donnette Davis - TeachersPayTeachers.com

A sweet book focusing on both upper and lower case letters of the alphabet, recognition and sequencing, and numbers 0 to 9. Includes tracing, writing and very plain flash cards.

GET IT FREE

Free Christmas Activity eBooks Extravaganza

Homeschooling eStore, Christmas Activity eBooks

DOWNLOAD NOW:
A host of free Christmas-themed PDF eBooks including:

The Ultimate Christmas Activity Pack
Healthy Christmas Recipes
Christmas Cakes Recipe Book
Spook's First Christmas
A Student's Christmas... and more...

Free Educational Christmas Activity eBooks and Worksheets

St Aidens ~ Free Christmas Activity Books

Phonics, maths, reading, writing, counting, motor skills... and more ►Download for free

The Little Match Girl Curriculum-Based Activity Gift Box

The Little Match Girl Mega Activity Gift Box: The Little Match Girl Mega Activity Gift Box

The Little Match Girl, Unit Study in Print and Audio

This Beautifully presented Educational Activity Pack consists of not one, but FIVE of Hans Christian Anderson's Well-Loved Tales.
Included within the pack:

• Audio File for the Little Match Girl
  
• Lesson Plans for all 5 of the stories
  
• Mini-booklets for each story
  
• Lesson Plans and Resources for Each Story
  
• 7 Self-extracting The Little Match Girl Jigsaw Puzzles
  
• A Comprehensive 142 Pg Curriculum-Based eBook including Teaching
  Plans, Resources, Activities & more
  
• Reading Comprehension Worksheets reproducible for Each of the 5
  Stories
  
• Hans Christian Anderson Biography and Lesson Plan
  
• 162 pg Christmas Themed Coloring In andActivity Book for Very Little
  People which incorporates
  
• 12 Days of Christmas Activity Pack, Copy-work, Sheet Music, Puzzles and
  more.
  

View the Entire Package at Currclick. This is an exceptional Gift for any child or educator since it includes reading comprehension and evaluation, grammar exercises, vocabulary, critical thinking skills, handwriting exercises, creative writing, phonics and more.... Can be adapted for very young to the much older learner.

Printable Christmas Games for Kids - and their Adults... Download or Make Your Own

Printable Christmas Games for Kids - and their Adults... Download or Make Your Own

In the Northern Hemisphere where winter has approached, families will be looking for fun indoor activities to while away a lazy afternoon, or as an appetizer to a children's Christmas party. In the Southern Hemisphere where a scorching African summer is in full force and the 6 week long Christmas Holiday is upon us - along with a sometimes very rainy season - parents will be looking for something to occupy little minds and hands out of the midday sun.

Together with my children I devised and compiled some fun printable Christmas games that are easy to download, easy to print and easy to assemble. The easiest - and most fun part - is playing the games, which can be used only for little people, or can be turned into an entire family feast of competition...

printable christmas games, donnette e davis, st aidens homeschool chrstmas printables

Free Activity Books & Printables - Educating Children in Understanding Pandemic Flu

Educating Children in Understanding Pandemic Flu
Pandemic Flu... What to do? What, what, what... Don't Panic... Read these simple and fun instructions, download some extremely brilliant fun activity books for the kids -> and you're set! :)

Christmas Trivia Challenge, Printable Games for Kids

Christmas Trivia Challenge, Printable Game: Christmas Trivia Challenge, Printable Game

How well do you ACTUALLY know Christmas around the world; in song, dance, and language?

This game provides a wide selection of Christmas trivia questions from general trivia to movies and music, traditions and languages. Test your knowledge of Christmas music with questions in the Music and Song Category, or see how well your dad REALLY remembers the movie or famous novel, "A Christmas Carol". What Christmas song contains the words "And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time..."? Who is Rudolph's dad? What will probably not find under the Christmas tree? What kind of Christmas is Elvis Presley going to have?

Get friends and family to join in to while away a lazy holiday afternoon, or use the game as a warm-up to a fabulous and fun Christmas gathering. Play the Game! And find the answers to these questions and a whole lot more!

Christmas Trivia Challenge, Printable Games for Kids

Christmas Trivia Challenge, Printable Game: Christmas Trivia Challenge, Printable Game

How well do you ACTUALLY know Christmas around the world; in song, dance, and language?

This game provides a wide selection of Christmas trivia questions from general trivia to movies and music, traditions and languages. Test your knowledge of Christmas music with questions in the Music and Song Category, or see how well your dad REALLY remembers the movie or famous novel, "A Christmas Carol". What Christmas song contains the words "And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time..."? Who is Rudolph's dad? What will you probably not find under the Christmas tree? What kind of Christmas is Elvis Presley going to have?

Get friends and family to join in to while away a lazy holiday afternoon, or use the game as a warm-up to a fabulous and fun Christmas gathering. Play the Game! And find the answers to these questions and a whole lot more!

Christmas Activities Mega eBook

Christmas Activities Mega-Packet: Christmas Activities Mega-Packet

From St Aiden's Homeschool $6.99 $3.99 PDF

This ebook is divided in various categories covering a wide range of subject areas including phonics, math, motor skills and critical thinking skills - all in all over 320 pages of fun and educational activities!

An eclectic mix of stunningly illustrated activities, from basic Christmas Picture and Christmas Animal Dictionaries; The Christmas Alphabet, Christmas Phonics, Snowman Activities, Christmas Numbers and Counting, Santa-themed activities, Flash Cards, Spot the difference! and an assortment of gift tags and label crafts.

Also included are handwriting and tracing exercises, along with picture/word association puzzles, Word Order! and Word Unscramble!
This unit is easily adaptable to a wider range of ages from very little people upwards.

Free Download - Exquisite Vintage Santa Christmas Playing Cards

Vintage Christmas Playing Cards: Vintage Christmas Playing Cards

Vintage Christmas Playing Cards

via Vintage Christmas Playing Cards.

If you're hosting a Children's Christmas Party you might want to consider a few board or card games. This full deck of full color cards includes Jokers, and blank cards (if you're feeling inspired). The cards are created using beautiful assorted vintage Christmas images from the public domain. Enjoy with our compliments!

Playing card games is a great way for children to learn a variety of basic skills, including counting, taking turns, basic strategy, and being a good sport. Here are some ideas for the best traditional card games for children. All of these games can be played with a standard 52-card deck. While these games are mostly aimed at the younger generations, people of all ages can join in.

Simply print all pages onto cardstock, laminate for protection and durability and cut out cards. Fold on the dotted line and paste the front and back of each card together. (Bonus here is that if you need more than one deck, just print two sets of the cards)

Full instructions for each game as well as variations are at the end of the book.

GoFish

Spoons

Old Maid

Snap

Hearts

Concentration/Memory

Christmas Bingo, Printable Christmas Games for Kids

Christmas Bingo: Christmas Bingo

Christmas Bingo

via Christmas Bingo.

Bingo is an easy game to play and also easy to teach. A popular choice when teaching phonics and numbers, Bingo is also often used for picture/word association in early learning.

While away a chilly Sunday afternoon, or use this game as a party activity building up to the excitement that fulfills our homes at Christmas.

This Packet contains 2 versions of Bingo; one version is a "picture match" version using picture calling cards, while the other uses word calling cards while the Bingo Mats are pictures.

With a total of 28 different Bingo Mats, 6 sheets of printable counters and 2 sets of calling cards this game is sure to keep little ones (and their adults) occupied for hours. $2.99

Christmas Scrabble Word Game - St Aiden's Homeschool | CurrClick

Christmas Scrabble Word Game - St Aiden's Homeschool | CurrClick

Christmas Scrabble Word Game
via Christmas Scrabble Word Game.

Children Learn by Play, and what better time than at Christmas when everything is madly exciting! This game gives a whole new twist on the traditional board game of Scrabble.
Teaching your child phonics and phonemic awareness needn't be dull and uninteresting. From a very early age your child will begin to recognise the shape and sound of letters, and be able to sound and associate the correct words to pictures shown. Once your child has learnt the alphabet a whole new world of fun learning experiences opens up to him or her.
I devised this Letter Tile game which worked wonderfully for my children when they were younger, and who, after successfully "spelling" out simple Dolch words with the letter tiles, pushed their own envelopes and sounded letters and words to pictures, thereby gaining awareness of more complex words and far advancing their initial knowledge. And the kids didn't even know they were learning!
I have included 215 picture cards, all with a Christmas Theme, blank cards with instructions on how to make your own, a storage envelope and 2 sheets of letter tiles, both upper and lower case, as well as educator notes on the importance of phonics and phonemic awareness.
Have fun!
Wishing you and yours a very safe and blessed Christmas and holiday season.


From St Aiden's Homeschool
$5.99 $2.99

Everything Christmas - St Aiden's Homeschool | CurrClick

Everything Christmas - St Aiden's Homeschool | CurrClick

Everything Christmas From St Aiden's Homeschool $0.00 PDF

Songs & Games & Puzzles 'n things... Something for everyone in the family... Spend fun-filled hours these holidays printing out as many copies of each activity as may be required; or have a sing-a-long to some really well-known and well-loved Christmas songs. With our compliments. Have a safe and happy holiday season! Best wishes Donnette

Stocking Up Your Shelves, 1000s of Choice Homeschool Resources Available for a Limited Period PLUS 10 CyberMonday Freebies :)

Stocking Up Your Shelves

Every year homeschoolers, teachers, parents and students look forward to Currclick's Annual Stocking Up Your Shelves Event where their top publishers make available thousands of quality educational and homeschool resources for a fraction of the normal retail price - yes, there are even hundreds available for free.


You have 21 days, 17 hours and 12 minutes to Stock Up Your Shelves!

Click here to download CurrClick's 8 Cyber Monday freebies for even more savings

Join Currclick on Facebook for another 2 (free) exceptional products

Halloween Recipes and Crafts (plus 11 free eBooks) - St Aiden's Homeschool | CurrClick

Halloween Recipes and Crafts (plus 11 free eBooks) - St Aiden's Homeschool | CurrClick

This book provides a unique selection of extremely edible and totally delicious and ghastly recipes....

Try your hand at:

Edible Spiders
Eerie Eyeballs
Creepy Witches' Fingers
Jack-O-Lantern Cheese and Crackers
Spooky Sandwiches
Creepy Crispy Crunchies
Devilled Eggs
Decayed Corpse Chips with Entrail Salsa
Witches' Brew
Bleeding Human Heart
Halloween Sandwich Figures
Jack-O-Lantern Burgers
Creepy Cheese Fries
Eyeball Tacos
Gooey Pasta with Cheese
Bat Wings
Pumpkin Face Cookies
Spider Cookies
Ice Cream Filled Witches' Hats
Alien Pops
Monster Fingers
Spooky Spider Treats
Spider Web Cupcakes

and loads more...

296 Pages of freakish fun, as well as

a Free ebook of Halloween Jokes; a Free ebook containing 19 Ghost Stories; 2 free ebooks, one for Pumpkin Seed recipes and another for pumpkin recipes, a free ebook of pumpkin patterns and 6 Halloween Coloring and Crafts eBooks for kids

The Recipes and Craft eBook is in PDF format. The free gifts (ebooks) are all in ZIP format, but will open to PDF's

Samhain - An Irish Fall Harvest Activity-Based Unit Study - St Aiden's Homeschool | CurrClick

Samhain - An Irish Fall Harvest Activity-Based Unit Study - St Aiden's Homeschool | CurrClick

Samhain in Ireland is a three-day festival that encompasses Halloween, All Saints' and All Souls' Days. It is a threshold time, marking the end of the bright days of summer and the beginning of autumn and then winter.

This activity-based unit study provides information relating to the history, traditions, myth and mystery surrounding this festival.

Included are worksheets (for older elementary children),crossword puzzles, wordsearches, coloring sheets and multiple choice questions, amongst other activities for even younger children.

Also included are traditional Irish Halloween crafts, recipes and games - something for the whole family.

Samhain songs and a reading list provide extension activities for either older or younger generations.

Gaelic/English words and phrases are included for those who would like to try their hand at traditional Irish language.

A Halloween Concentration Game and a Halloween Tic-Tac-Toe are included in this bundle.

Picture the African Sunset

Picture the African Sunset

I think this is one of the most beautiful scenes to be found anywhere in the world - an African sunset. And I took the picture!

Irish Halloween Games, Crafts and Activities for Kids

Irish Halloween Games, Crafts and Activities for Kids

Many Traditional Irish Halloween Games Have Their Origins in Trials by Water

Extracted from: Irish Halloween Games, Crafts and Activities for Kids

The Celtic year begins, as life begins, in darkness. According to ancient Roman authors, the druids believed that "souls do not die but after death pass into other bodies". Their belief in reincarnation was so strong that it was said that an unsettled debt at the time of a person's death could be carried over to their next life!

Samhain is also known as Halloween, Snap Apple Night and Night of the Tricks.

Samhain in Ireland is a three-day festival that encompasses Hallowe'en, All Saints' and All Souls' Days.

It is a time when families gather together to discuss the year which is gone, and to predict the year which is to come; a time when hearty traditional food becomes the main attraction; a time when children dress up and play. It is a time when young men and women ask questions about their futures. It is a time of deep tradition, superstition, myth and mystery.

The Fairies, or the Little People, can be seen riding in procession from one fairy fort to another across the land. It is traditional to put out a bowl of milk or porridge or a piece of cake for the fairies as they pass by your house.

All crops had to be gathered in before Samhain on 31 October, and no berries could be picked after this time, as the Pooka would spit on them. The last sheaf of the harvest left standing in the field was named the Cailleach or Hag. This 'old woman', who was formerly revered as the crone aspect of the Celtic triple goddess, the maiden, Brigit; the mother, Macha; and the crone, Morrigan, who has since dwindled into the figure of the witch, dressed in black with cauldron and riding her broomstick.

For more on Halloween traditions and myth, and also Halloween Games and Crafts visit Irish Halloween Games, Crafts and Activities for Kids

Traditional Irish Autumn Harvest Recipes

Traditional Irish Autumn Harvest Recipes

The Celtic year begins, as life begins - in darkness, at midnight on Samhain, 31 October, the beginning of the autumn

I love Ireland, I love all things Irish. Learning about the old myths and traditions, culture, the people and heritage, is a source of wonderment and inspiration to me. I wrote this lens for a Squidoo Rocketmoms Lens Challenge, and included some familiar traditional Irish fall harvest recipes.. enjoy!

Samhain is a three-day festival held in Ireland, which incorporates All Souls' Day, Halloween, and All Saints' Day. It marks the end of the bright days of summer and the beginning of the darker - and colder - part of the year.

Beautiful and mysterious Ireland is steeped in myth and tradition. Stories of little folk can be heard everywhere. In times gone by, discussions surrounding the Fall Harvest were had at every meeting place. The Sidhe, also known as The Fairies, The Good Folk, Little People or Tuatha de Dunann move from their summer residence to their autumn homes at this time.

All crops had to be gathered in before Samhain, and no berries could be picked after this time, as Pooka would spit on them. The last sheaf of harvest left standing in the field was called Cailleach, or Hag. This component of the Celtic triple Goddess, Brigid the maiden, Macha the mother and Morrigan the crone has since become the witch, dressed in black, riding her broomstick or cooking over her cauldron.

Weather forecasts for the winter were made according to the direction and strength of the wind at midnight on 31 October, or by the movement of clouds over the moon at that time.

Source: http://www.squidoo.com/irish-autumn-harvest-recipes

Trunk or Treat Sale

Trunk or Treat Sale

Search for 8 FREE education products hidden all over CurrClick.com. And even better, fall themed titles will be discounted by up to 75%!

Today is the 1st day of CurrClick's most exciting promotion of the season: Our Trunk or Treat Sale and Freebie Event! Tomorrow, October 18th (around 10:00 CST) through October 31st, customers can search for 8 FREE education products hidden all over CurrClick.com. And even better, fall themed titles will be discounted by up to 75%! You will not want to miss this exciting and fun event.

Halloween Games, Compendium of Assorted Board and Card Games - St Aiden's Homeschool | CurrClick

Halloween Games, Compendium of Assorted Board and Card Games - St Aiden's Homeschool | CurrClick

Halloween Games, Compendium of Assorted Board and Card Games | PDF Download

From St Aiden's Homeschool $4.99, 123 pages of games and activities If you're hosting a Children's Halloween Craft Party you might want to consider a few board or card games. Halloween parties take many forms. Here are some games that you might want to play at parties. While these games are mostly aimed at the younger generations, people of all ages can join in. All are Halloween-themed, and most have black and white variations if you would prefer not to print in color. Printing and game instructions (and variations) are all included within the Box of Halloween Games. Included are: Halloween Dominoes Halloween Go Fish! Halloween Bingo (with printable counters) Halloween Scrabble Word Tile and Picture Game Halloween Concentration Board Game Halloween Tic-Tac-Toe (3 board games, one for girls, one for boys and one neutral) Pin the.... (based on the Pint The Tail on The Donkey game there are 5 variations) 2 full Decks of Vintage Halloween Playing Cards, included the jokers and instructions for 4 other Halloween card games which require the use of a conventional deck of cards. The file is in ZIP format. You will need to extract all files which will then open up to PDF format. Once printed onto A4, the games CAN be enlarged by photocopying onto A3 size if desired. Also see for more free downloads http://www.squidoo.com/printable-halloween-board-games

Kids Halloween Board Games - Recycle, Make, Download or Print

Kids Halloween Board Games - Recycle, Make, Download or Print

Save time, save money and save the environment by making or recycling your own Halloween board games

Halloween is the most celebrated and advertised holiday/festival second only to Christmas. Masked parties are planned, costumes are designed, menus set, and decor has to be "just right". Children and their adults seem to lose themselves in their Halloween preparations, the excitement, anticipation surrounding this well-loved festival. Children's parties take on the Halloween theme, and Halloween Craft Parties are becoming increasingly popular.

Sadly in today's economic climate many families are not able to spend vast amounts on decor, costumes, children's parties and the like, hence we look at different ideas to spice up your Halloween celebration, be it in recycling costumes, making inexpensive Halloween decorations, creating deliciously ghoulish but healthy gastronomic delights on a shoestring budget, or in this case making or recycling your own Children's Halloween Board Games.

This lens will show you how easy it is to make (or recycle) your own printable board games, card games and more. This is an inexpensive way to cram your party with different game ideas, and your child will get to use the game pieces again in years to come.

Also on this page, you'll be able to download for free a Halloween Tic-Tac-Toe Game Board and pieces, and also a beautiful Vintage Halloween full Deck of cards, including the jokers - plus instructions for another 4 card games that are sure to delight your child.

Source: http://www.squidoo.com/printable-halloween-board-games

Tic-Tac-Toe Halloween Board Game- Make your own or download this game for free

Tic-tac-toe, also called wick wack woe (in some Asian countries) and noughts and crosses (in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India and the rest of the British Commonwealth countries), is a pencil-and-paper game for two players, X and O, who take turns marking the spaces in a 3×3 grid. The X player usually goes first. The player who succeeds in placing three respective marks in a horizontal, vertical, or
diagonal row wins the game.

Tic-Tac-Toe Halloween Picture Game - This particular game is played in exactly the same way as the traditional Tic-Tac-Toe, only instead of writing the "o" or the "x" picture cards are placed on the relevant squares. There are 3 sets of cards, one in color and two in black and white.

Vintage Halloween Playing Cards - Yours to Download for Free

If you're hosting a Children's Halloween Craft Party you might want to consider a few board or card games. This full deck of full color cards includes Jokers, and blank cards (if you're feeling inspired). The beautiful images are from the public domain. Enjoy!

The number of games that can be played with a simple deck of cards is amazing. If you have a deck of cards with you, you won't be at a loss for a way to keep little ones (and older children) entertained.

Source: http://www.squidoo.com/printable-halloween-board-games

Halloween Painted Rocks Children's Craft

Halloween Painted Rocks Children's Craft

I sometimes feel like a stuck record when it comes to Halloween

It's true. I've thoroughly enjoyed creating Halloween lenses and working through some of the books I've put together for homeschooling this year. Last year was a disaster. Although I whine (yes, I actually do!) about my internet connection (or lack thereof) because I am forced to used a dongle that seriously battles to find reception, I have to look on the bright side. Last year, 2010, I didn't even have the dongle...

I feel that I can carry on putting all my ideas down on paper, creating unit studies, making Halloween Board Games (woohoo! Another lens ideas?) but alas, Squidoo has too many exciting things happening right now and I have to flit between one and the other... Busy busy bee I am!

Any event you can download any of these ( and a whole lot more - plus free ebooks) for free from my HUGE St Aiden's Homeschool Halloween Section

So again, if I sound like a stuck record, forgive me. I always feel the need to explain things - sometimes more than once.

Source: http://www.squidoo.com/halloween-painted-rocks-craft

Straw Hat Scarecrow Craft

Straw Hat Scarecrow Craft

Historically the scarecrow is thought to ward off predators that would take the harvest which makes it an important symbol at Thanksgiving

We, in South Africa, do not celebrate Harvest or Thanksgiving. In the southern hemisphere our fall occurs almost simultaneously with the spring of the northern hemisphere.


However many communities worldwide celebrate Thanksgiving in one form or another. The concept behind Thanksgiving ceremony celebration, held in both the USA and Canada, is similar to the August Moon Festival in China, Tet Trung Thu in Vietnam, the Jewish Succoth, Kwanzaa in Africa, Pongal in India and Chusok in Korea and that is to celebrate the harvest holiday which is dedicated as a time to give thanks to their ancestors or to God for the harvest.

The only difference in the festivals is date, rituals and customs but the reasons behind it remain the same.

In China the Chinese celebrate August Moon festival that falls on the 15th day of 8th lunar month of their calendar. Chinese believe that the moon is roundest and brightest on this day. Below the heavenly moonlight, lovers speak out their heart to each other. It is also known as Women Festival. Conventionally women are considered similes to warm and compassionate virtues and have the gift of fertility, just like Mother Earth. Unlike the famous pumpkin pie, the Chinese delicacies consist of moon-cake. Friends and relatives convey their regard to each other by gifting moon cake.

The Roman harvest festival is known as Cerelia and was celebrated in the honor of the deity Ceres (Goddess of Corn). Their festival commenced on October 4th and it was a custom to first produced fruits, grains and animals to the Goddess. Music, parades and sports extended the glee of the ceremony.

The Brazilian thanksgiving is quite contemporary compared to American thanksgiving. When the Ambassador of Brazil visited U.S. at the invitation of National Cathedral of Washington, D.C., he was enamored by the concept and brought it to his homeland. In southern Brazil, it is a sort of expressing gratitude to Almighty for an enormous harvest. Though acclaimed for its Carnival celebrations they cannot be undermined in other festivities.

The Chu-Sok (meaning "fall evening") celebration of Korea falls on 15th of August. It begins on the 14th night and continues for three days. Koreans make a dish called 'Songpyon' unique for that occasion consisting of rice, beans, sesame seeds and chestnuts. Before having the food, the family gathers beneath the moonlight, in remembrance of their ancestors and forefathers. The children dress in long-prescribed dress dancing in circle with an inherent desire of their blessing.

To celebrate harvest-time and Thanksgiving many different and beautiful crafts abound. This sweet scarecrow craft can be enjoyed by the whole family in any part of the world. Using two straw hats, it is easy to make an adorable scarecrow to dress up your home for the harvest season.

For the full craft and other great ideas click this link

Teaching Phonics and Phonic Awareness to Early Learners

Teaching Phonics and Phonic Awareness to Early Learners

Phonic Awareness and Teaching Guides For Young Children

Phonic Awareness and Teaching Guides For Young Children

In preparation of reading comprehension activity books created for children and then onward transmission/submission to various organizations or for free availability as downloads on various websites an inordinate amount of time is spent researching age-appropriate content for children. This same principle applies to the formal education system.

The public domain resources available on the internet today are an excellent source of materials with which to begin one's research, and to source age appropriate material with which to educate young children by way of reading comprehension. One soon realizes that there is little difference between early education and that of today - schools are man-made. Home Education has been around since the beginning of time!

The words and terms utilized when compiling these books should not be outside the general vocabulary of any child in the normal environment. The content of the books that are supplied to children for educational or leisure purposes should be based on the usual experiences of childhood and prove to be full of vivid meaning for children.

Recognizing the eye as a highly important agent in the reading process, it is feasible that in view of studies and research, a plan of presentation of sentences and phrases intended to develop focal fields, wider perception plans, and eye sweeps (from left to right) and to reduce to the bare minimum eye-pauses and eye-regressions.

Much slow, hesitant and uncomprehending reading has been shown to be due to a mechanical distraction or over-emphasis on a word or words or letter units.

It has been demonstrated that these distractions therefore interfere with the formation of correct reading habits, and that they can largely be eliminated or reduced through proper presentation of new material and through carefully constructed exercises which lead the child to first recognise and read the sentence as a whole - afterwards breaking it up into its separate words.

It is suggested that each new step, i.e. learning words, making phrases and then learning the whole sentence, be developed and practiced by the educator first. Further practice may be gained from the development pages in the workbooks, prior to reading the entire "story" in which these preliminary or preparatory steps have their application.

Children should at first be exposed to the "look and say" portions of workbooks, prior to actually reading the story and the preliminary phonic work, i.e. the individual words and phrases, should be developed independently in a child's first "look and say" primer. In this event we make extensive use of the "220 Dolch words" being the 220 most common used words learned by children from primer to Grade 3 level. Of course this varies from country to country and culture to culture, but the basics remain the same.

In all activities it is imperative that the child be allowed to develop at their own pace and that the learning activity be a fun and interactive activity. This serves to encourage a more enthusiastic approach to learning in this manner.

Donnette E Davis, single WAHM and mother to 6, passionate homeschooler and author of children's educational ebooks. Host and webmistress of St Aiden's Homeschool, South Africa. Our website is updated almost daily with free teacher/parent and student resources, with activities for very little people right up to adults, and includes educational resources for family health and family law. http://www.staidenshomeschool.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donnette_E_Davis
Phonic Awareness and Teaching Guides For Young Children

Source: http://www.squidoo.com/phonic-awareness

Make Your Own Halloween Gift Baskets, Hampers and Care Packages

Make Your Own Halloween Gift Baskets, Hampers and Care Packages

How to Create a Halloween Gift Basket for a Teenager

Steps

1. Consider the recipient. Are you making a Halloween gift basket for a boy or girl? A young teen or an older teen? What are their interests and hobbies?
   
2. Choose a container. You will need some kind of container for the gifts. This does not have to be an actual basket. Some ideas to consider are:
   
   • a black or orange basket
     
   • an old fruit crate
     
   • a backpack or tote bag
     
   • a plastic popcorn bucket
     
   • a trick or treat bag
     
   
   
3. Consider gift size. The size, shape, and number of gifts you choose should depend on the size and shape of your container. If you choose only big gifts, you won't be able to fit many and there will be enough gaps in between the gifts that it looks strange, and the size of the gifts may eclipse the container. If you choose only small gifts you may need dozens to fill the container. It is best to get gifts in an array of sizes, and always consider how they will look in proportion to the container.
   
4. Add food. Halloween is a harvest festival and primarily about food. Candy is traditional, and individually wrapped fun-size candies are perfect for tucking in between gifts. You can also include popcorn balls, candy apples, crisps or chips, cookies, cakes, granola bars, and individual packets of nuts.
   
5. Add Media. Books, movies, magazines, and CDs are all good basket fillers. Horror would, of course, be traditional for the holiday, but you should only get things in genres or by artists the teenager enjoys.
   
6. Add hobby related item. Include things that you know the teenager will like and use. These could include but aren't limited to:
   
   • Stickers and a shaped hole punch for the scrapbook enthusiast
     
   • Cookie cutters, sprinkles, oven mitt, or utensils for the cook or baker
     
   • pens and a journal for a writer or sketcher
     
   • Paints and brushes for a painter
     
   • Guitar picks, straps, strings, sheet music, or electronic tuner for a musician.
     
   
   
7. Add Halloween trinkets. Perhaps a small candle that looks like a jack-o-lantern, a gargoyle statue, a plastic skull, or Halloween printed socks would be appreciated.
   
8. Arrange the gifts. Fill the container approximately 1/2 way with crumpled news or scrap paper. Add a thin layer of shredded tissue paper, excelsior, or ripped up sheets from the Sunday comics. Arrange the larger gifts, such as DVDs or books, towards the back of the container. Add the medium gifts, such as CDs or guitar straps, next, just in front of the larger. Tuck the small gifts, such as fun size candies, into any gaps left.
   
9. Complete any finishing touches. You may want to seal the basket in plastic for a "professional" look. You can buy plastic for this purpose from a craft store. You may also decide to place the basket in a gift bag, or simply to tie a ribbon to the container.
   

Tips

• You may decide to do a theme for the gift basket that has nothing to do with Halloween, such as a romantic comedy movie basket. This is perfectly okay too!
  
• For more ideas on fillers for the basket, look up ideas for Christmas stocking fillers. They often contain the same kinds of things.
  
• Gift baskets are very aesthetic things, but there is no necessarily "right" way to arrange the item. Just fill it so it looks right to you, the gifts do not block each other, and the container doesn't hide the gifts.
  
• If the items keep shifting around you can use clear sellotape to attach them to the edge of the basket, or to attach them to wooden dowel roads which can be "planted" in the filler.
  

Warnings

• Always know food allergies before including edible items
  
• Never leave candles burning unattended
  

Article adapted from wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Original wikiHow article on How to Create a Halloween Gift Basket for a Teenager. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Spooky Halloween Cupcake Recipes

Spooky Halloween Cupcake Recipes

Make deliciously scary cupcakes for your Halloween Party

Ghosts, ghouls, witches, bats and talking pumpkins - all things that will delight your child at Halloween.

For your Halloween Party this year, have your child don oven glove and apron and help out in the kitchen creating these cupcake works of art that will make him the envy of every kid on the block - and will turn your Halloween party into the "Party of the Year".

You would already have decided on the theme for your party, so invitations, decor and costumes would be arranged already. In keeping with the spirit of the occasion (no pun intended) the recipes and cupcake decorations on this page will enhance the children's experience. Half the excitement of Halloween is in the preparation and anticipation of the occasion.

Let your little ones play a very important role in their party and help make decisions on what treats and snacks will be served to the guests.

Source: http://www.squidoo.com/spooky-halloween-cupcake-recipes

All the cupcake recipes you can think of... And even more... and more.. and then some more...Can be found in this fantastical magical Halloween recipes and crafts book...

Find all the tips and techniques necessary to make a great Halloween craft party for your child. (Or yourself) you WILL want to Preview Halloween Recipes and Crafts

This 296 page book (ridiculously low price of $9.95) provides a unique selection of extremely edible and totally delicious and ghastly recipes suitable for kids parties, themed parties, adults only parties...

Try your hand at:

Edible Spiders
Eerie Eyeballs
Creepy Witches' Fingers
Jack-O-Lantern Cheese and Crackers
Spooky Sandwiches
Creepy Crispy Crunchies
Devilled Eggs
Decayed Corpse Chips with Entrail Salsa
Witches' Brew
Bleeding Human Heart
Halloween Sandwich Figures
Jack-O-Lantern Burgers
Creepy Cheese Fries
Eyeball Tacos
Gooey Pasta with Cheese
Bat Wings
Pumpkin Face Cookies
Spider Cookies
Ice Cream Filled Witches' Hats
Alien Pops
Monster Fingers
Spooky Spider Treats
Spider Web Cupcakes

and loads more...



296 Pages of freakish fun, as well as

a Free ebook of Halloween Jokes
a Free ebook containing 19 Ghost Stories
2 free ebooks, one for Pumpkin Seed recipes and another for pumpkin recipes,
a free ebook of pumpkin patterns
6 Halloween Coloring and Crafts eBooks for kids

Preview all of these Halloween Crafts, Activities and Recipes

Related Pages and great ideas for Halloween Crafts, educational activities, costumes, decorating ideas and recipes visit:

http://www.squidoo.com/vintage-halloween-clipart

http://www.squidoo.com/rocky-horror-frank-n-furter-costume

http://www.squidoo.com/spooky-halloween-cutouts

http://www.squidoo.com/ghoulish-halloween-party-treats

http://www.squidoo.com/ye-olde-halloween

http://www.squidoo.com/rocky-horror-halloween

http://www.squidoo.com/rocky-horror-columbia-costume

http://www.squidoo.com/bleeding-heart-recipe

http://www.squidoo.com/spooky-halloween-cupcake-recipes

http://www.squidoo.com/frightfully-funny-halloween-jokes

http://www.squidoo.com/nottingham-road-hotel

Ghoulish Halloween Party Treats

Ghoulish Halloween Party Treats

Make Your House The Coolest House In The Neighborhood With These Great Halloween Recipes And Crafts...!

Halloween.. Boring? NEVER AGAIN!

Find all the tips and techniques necessary to make a great Halloween craft party for your child. (Or yourself) you WILL want to Preview Halloween Recipes and Crafts

This 296 page book (ridiculously low price of $9.95) provides a unique selection of extremely edible and totally delicious and ghastly recipes suitable for kids parties, themed parties, adults only parties...

Try your hand at:

Edible Spiders
Eerie Eyeballs
Creepy Witches' Fingers
Jack-O-Lantern Cheese and Crackers
Spooky Sandwiches
Creepy Crispy Crunchies
Devilled Eggs
Decayed Corpse Chips with Entrail Salsa
Witches' Brew
Bleeding Human Heart
Halloween Sandwich Figures
Jack-O-Lantern Burgers
Creepy Cheese Fries
Eyeball Tacos
Gooey Pasta with Cheese
Bat Wings
Pumpkin Face Cookies
Spider Cookies
Ice Cream Filled Witches' Hats
Alien Pops
Monster Fingers
Spooky Spider Treats
Spider Web Cupcakes

and loads more...



296 Pages of freakish fun, as well as

a Free ebook of Halloween Jokes
a Free ebook containing 19 Ghost Stories
2 free ebooks, one for Pumpkin Seed recipes and another for pumpkin recipes,
a free ebook of pumpkin patterns
6 Halloween Coloring and Crafts eBooks for kids

Preview all of these Halloween Crafts, Activities and Recipes

All the little extras you'll get...

HALLOWEEN CRAFTS AND RECIPES

AND NOW FOR ALL THE EXTRAS YOU'LL GET! (11 additional FULL eBooks)

PUMPKIN CARVING PATTERNS FULL EBOOK

19 CLASSIC GHOST STORIES

PUMPKIN RECIPES

PUMPKIN SEED RECIPES

6 HALLOWEEN COLORING AND ACTIVITY BOOKS FOR KIDS

HALLOWEEN CRAFTS AND RECIPES

Here's a sample of the ghastly and delicious menu:

Brittle Meringue Bones

Makes 4 to 5 dozen small bones.

3 large egg whites
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1/8 tsp. salt
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

What to do:

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Line A cookie sheet with brown paper bag or parchment.

In a medium sized bowl at high speed, beat egg whites, cream of tartar and salt till fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar. Add vanilla. Place in pastry bag fitted with a medium plain piping tip.

Pipe 3" bone shapes onto parchment or brown paper bag. Bake for 1 hour until set.

Turn off oven, dry in the oven for 1 hour.

SOURCE: http://www.squidoo.com/ghoulish-halloween-party-treats

Halloween Family Fun - St Aiden's Homeschool | CurrClick

Halloween Family Fun - St Aiden's Homeschool | CurrClick

Halloween Family Fun From St Aiden's Homeschool $4.95 PDF PREVIEW YOUR COPY NOW!

Description Guaranteed to keep the whole family busy while gearing up for the Halloween Festivities, this book contains something for everyone - and then some more :) This book is an eclectic collection of lesson plans, activities and resources for parents, teachers and learners from preschool through to Grade 7, with a specific focus on the early learner. As with all of our books, activities can be adjusted according to the age of the learner. For ease of reference and due to the large size of the document I have divided the book into sections, the first section being for parents and educators and includes the History, Superstitions, Halloween Safety, Traditional Recipes and their origins, costume and event planning and more. A brief look at the Origins and History of Halloween will assist the educator/parent in gaining a broad background and insight into the traditions and concept of Halloween, and how the occasion has evolved over time and how it is celebrated throughout the world. Included for parents/educators is information on pumpkin carving, pumpkin facts and more. Included in this book are fun and educational lacing activities, phonics, number activities, Halloween Riddles and jokes, mazes, crossword puzzles (from early learner to more advanced), wordsearches, Halloween Cloze, Halloween Quiz, handwriting activities, sight word cards, stickers, matching pictures, games, Halloween arts and crafts, Halloween Phonics, colouring, "spot the difference", fingerplays, rhymes and songs. Also included are a range of scrapbooking and notebooking pages, tags, labels, treat bags, labels, invitations and matching Halloween-themed stationery. Lesson Plans range from Kindgergarten to around Grade 7 but again, are adaptable to either younger or older learners. With blessings for your educational journey Donnette E Davis St Aiden's Homeschool

PREVIEW YOUR COPY NOW!

Thanksgiving, Everything You Need to Know & More by Donnette E Davis in Parenting & Families

Thanksgiving, Everything You Need to Know & More by Donnette E Davis in Parenting & Families

Thanksgiving, Everything You Need to Know & More
By Donnette E Davis


Thanksgiving, Everything You Need to Know & More
Preview
Price: US$14.99
Download immediately

An indispensible comprehensive guide to planning and hosting the most successful & memorable Thanksgiving celebration covering every single aspect down to last minute preparations. This book does it all for you! Includes whether or not to host an adults'or kids' only function, formal or informal celebration, table seating arrangements, laying the perfect Thanksgiving table,invitations,planning, budgets, including hosts of traditional Thanksgiving recipes. A beautifully illustrated How-To on how to carve a turkey/chicken. Includes a full vegan menu with the yummiest deserts and puddings. A few variations on pumpkin pie (& many other delicious pies and sauces)are included. Simple crafts are included with easy to follow instructions. Planning, budget, invitation lists, food and drink requirements, name & place cards, a formal invitation & menu are included. Truly a book worth keeping which you will refer to time and time again & one which your guests would love to receive as a gift!

Halloween Recipes and Crafts (plus 11 free eBooks) - St Aiden's Homeschool | CurrClick

Halloween Recipes and Crafts (plus 11 free eBooks) - St Aiden's Homeschool | CurrClick

Halloween Recipes and Crafts (plus 11 free eBooks) From St Aiden's Homeschool $19.99 $9.99 ZIP File

Description Find all the tips and techniques necessary to make a great Halloween craft party for your child. (Or yourself) you will oh-so-definitely want to Preview Halloween Recipes and Crafts This book provides a unique selection of extremely edible and totally delicious and ghastly recipes.... Try your hand at: Edible Spiders Eerie Eyeballs Creepy Witches' Fingers Jack-O-Lantern Cheese and Crackers Spooky Sandwiches Creepy Crispy Crunchies Devilled Eggs Decayed Corpse Chips with Entrail Salsa Witches' Brew Bleeding Human Heart Halloween Sandwich Figures Jack-O-Lantern Burgers Creepy Cheese Fries Eyeball Tacos Gooey Pasta with Cheese Bat Wings Pumpkin Face Cookies Spider Cookies Ice Cream Filled Witches' Hats Alien Pops Monster Fingers Spooky Spider Treats Spider Web Cupcakes and loads more... 296 Pages of freakish fun, as well as a Free ebook of Halloween Jokes a Free ebook containing 19 Ghost Stories 2 free ebooks, one for Pumpkin Seed recipes and another for pumpkin recipes, a free ebook of pumpkin patterns 6 Halloween Coloring and Crafts eBooks for kids The Recipes and Craft eBook is in PDF format. The free gifts (ebooks) are all in ZIP format, but will open to PDF's

Fighting Pollution From Outer Space - Free Parent/Educator Printables and Lesson Plans

Fighting Pollution From Outer Space

I'm going to present the information I have researched in fairly simple and child-friendly terms, since my aim will be to provide teacher/parent resources at the bottom of this lens page for parents or educators who would perhaps like to share the information with their students/children.

You will have seen by the title that this lens is about pollution - and trying to combat the problem -> from outer space!

Not all types of pollution are easily seen. For example invisible plumes of gas may drift over our towns and cities; they can cause asthma and a variety of other chest and respiratory problems.

Pollution can kill trees.

Pollution can kill animals.

Pollution can damage the air that we breathe.

Pollution can damage the very earth on which we live, the very earth that without which, we will not be able to survive..

loads of free printables on this page!

Unleash The Genius In Your Child

Unleash The Genius In Your Child

Teach your child the importance of setting goals and developing a plan to meet that goal and complete that task. Small projects are the best to start off with in the beginning. Ensure that it's an appropriate task for your child, and not too complex. Don't only give praise at the end of the project, but praise their accomplishments during the project as well.

Butterflies and Moths, Thematic Unit Study

Butterflies and Moths, Thematic Unit Study

Some of the best ways for our children to learn is by play and interaction. Teaching them about insects - butterflies and moths - is a fun and exciting way for you to encompass a variety of subjects into your theme. There are loads of free printables, activities and crafts on this page :)

Busy Bees Thematic Unity and Activities

Busy Bees Thematic Unity and Activities: "Busy Bees Thematic Unity and Activities"

While I have written extensively previously about bees, the work was aimed at early learners to much older learners. The unit is written in US English and is A4 size.

Please adjust your printer settings.

I decided to focus this product on little learners, and have included:
Coloring
Basic writing exercises
Mazes
Basic Counting Exercises
Word Wall cards
Calendar Pieces
Days of the Week
Alphabet Flash Cards
Sight Words
Vocabulary Exercises
Wordsearches and more…

For older students I have included one or two more advanced cryptic puzzles, all bee-related, to test critical thinking skills. An advanced crossword puzzle has been included for these children.For moms, dads and the rest of the family, enjoy cooking, baking, crafts and singing along with action poems, accompanied by a few very comprehensive lesson plans. Also included is a list of further resources for educators.
This will be a good time to introduce your child to the “ee” word family also :)

Bees and Wasps Thematic Unit Study

Bees and Wasps Thematic Unit Study

Bees and wasps thematic unit study, free homeschool printables

The Law of Attraction and Goal Setting for Kids

The Law of Attraction and Goal Setting for Kids
It doesn't matter what you do; when you spend time with your child alone, you are not distracted with chores and responsibilities, and neither is he. You have time to focus your attention on relationship building in so many ways. Can you imagine how great it will feel years from now when that 'book' or movie is trotted out to show yet again?

To Download your FREE PDF eBooks "Raising Happy Kids" and "An Attitude on Attitude" and other great printables -> http://www.squidoo.com/law-of-attraction-for-kids

Crickets and Their Cousins, a Unit Study

Crickets and Their Cousins, a Unit Study
An entire page created to teaching your child about this insect, its relatives, conservation etc... Crafts, songs and poems and other free resources enhance the thematic unit study.

Crickets, Unit Study and Activity Book

Crickets, Unit Study and Activity Book: "Crickets, Unit Study and Activity Book"

Not all the tiny creatures you see creeping and crawling and flying are truly bugs. When somebody says, "Ooh, look at the bug!" he might be pointing at a beetle with six legs, or a spider with eight legs, or a centipede with many legs. Or he might be pointing at a stink bug, which belongs to the only family scientists call bugs. But in this book we call them all bugs to make it easier.


This book is on the singing bug called the cricket, and also talks about the cricket's cousins, the grasshopper, cicada and katydid.

This activity unit is suitable for early and more advanced learners, and for a theme within your homeschool classroom.

Autism Explained, Free Parenting Resources

Autism Explained

Autism Explained.

Being able to work effectively with different professionals, exchanging ideas concerns and openly communicating about what's working and what's not, are all important elements in their child's educational success.

Remember that, as a parent, you know your child best and have the greatest investment in him or her. You need to diplomatically but strongly advocate for your child.

* Develop relationships with the teachers who work with your child.
* Get information, and know your options.
* Remember that the people you are working with also care for your child.
* You need to be credible and informed to have people listen to and respect what you say. Be sure to learn what your rights are.
* Be aware that parents have a lot of power. Don't wait for two months to check in for results. If something is not resolved quickly, work on it. Teachers don't always have as much leverage as you think. You may be able to help your child's teacher resolve something much faster. Work as a team.
* Remember that working with the school can a very emotional, personal process, because this is your child. It's very easy to feel defensive. Try to describe your needs in behavioral terms, not emotional terms.
* Keep things in perspective: Ask yourself, "Is what my child is doing typical for his age group, or does his behavior have to do with his disability?" Encourage those who work with your child to do so, too.
* Know that everything you do is not written in stone. You can change things. Just because you decided something at the end of June doesn't mean you have to do it for the next year. You can change it at the end of October if it's not working. You can call the committee back and ask to reevaluate the situation. .
* Remember to think of your child first. The disability is just part of who your child is. Remind people of your child's strengths. Encourage teachers to praise him or her.
* Ask the teacher to have your child be in the helper position at times, not always the one being helped.
* Encourage a work ethic at home. Put value on those traits that promote success in school: responsibility, consequences for behavior, organization, and punctuality. Jobs at home translate into expectations. A sense of cooperation and self-worth follow.
* If you are not sure about how to talk with teachers, connect with other parents. It's like an adult buddy system. Talk to other parents about what they are doing. You can get a parent advocate to work with you someone who's gone through what you're going through.
* Communication the most important thing to do is to establish open communication. Try to be non-threatening. You can make friends and get what you need.
* Look at yourself closely to identify habits or attitudes that interfere with effective communication or your being taken seriously.
* Be sure to communicate any concerns or ideas right away, over the phone or with a note, while the discussion can be relatively casual. By communicating early, you can avoid becoming angry and frustrated; by intervening early, you can avoid a situation growing into a bigger problem or crisis.
* One very effective way to keep communication open is to use log books. The teachers (and others who are working with your child) write in these each day and send them back home with the child. The parent reads what the teacher writes and responds and sends the book back with the child. These are especially effective with non-verbal children. It keeps the communication open between parent and teacher. Plus, sometimes writing to a teacher makes it easier to communicate an idea in the way that you want to express it.
* Inform teachers immediately of any unusual circumstances occurring at home. A stressed child cannot attend to task, often exhibits disruptive behavior, or may simply space out. Teachers may misread the signs. Examples range from divorce to a sick grandmother to a new baby. Each student has a very different response to these life changes.
* Creative Problem Solving
* In order to get your point across or convince people to try something they might not be inclined to do, be positive and enthusiastic. Be very upfront and give them factual information about your child's needs to alleviate their fears. Explain the reasons you want something done, then suggest ways to do it.
* Keep experimenting. You never know what will work.
* Ask that your child participate in everything, even at a modified level of activity.
* Convince people to try new activities or approaches before disqualifying them, even if it's for a trial time of one month.
* If you feel that decisions are being made without you, call and ask to be included in discussions. You can suggest a "pre" IEP meeting to talk about some of your ideas and what your goals and the goals of your child are. This is especially helpful for meetings that involve therapists and/or both special and general education staff. By talking before the meeting with the specific people who are responsible for your areas of concern, you can structure the formal meeting so it goes smoothly and so the entire group can sign off with only one meeting.
* Make a list of things you want to say before you go to a meeting and take it with you.
* When you meet, give yourself plenty of time to discuss important issues.
* Bring someone with you to the meeting for moral support your spouse, a friend, a
sibling.
* Good Parent-Teacher Relations
* Write letters or make calls to say thank you when things are going well. It's always a good idea to let educators know about successes, especially those that occur outside of school. For really successful occurrences, send a copy of your letter to the principal or supervisor, so he or she, too, will know what a great job your child's teacher is doing.
* Even if you don't agree with the methods that are being used, if your child is improving, recognize it.
* Maintain a "we" attitude. Ask how "we" can work together to solve a given problem.
* Write articles to the local paper about one of your child's success stories. It's good for the school, the teacher, and your child.
* If you're part of a parent group, consider inviting teachers and/or administrators to a meeting every now and again. They are probably curious about what parent groups talk about and would appreciate being included in discussions. Their perspectives are often very enlightening, and they may have concerns that never occurred to the parents. Remember, inclusion isn't only for kids.
* Work on creating a good relationship with all the people who work with your child. Be open to sharing information about your child.
* Be willing to take part. Volunteer to help out with things. Be as involved as possible.
* Remember people at the end of each year. Little notes or gifts of thanks will be very appreciated by those who receive them.
* Support the people who work with your child even when things aren't going as well. Encourage them to keep trying, that tomorrow will be better, and how you appreciate their efforts on your child's behalf.

Credit Source http://www.autism-pdd.net/autism-tips.html