the chore chart that lives on the chalkboard that hangs in the mudroom

 

 

Our newest (we’re determined to try them all!) chore system is Pinterest inspired by this super cute printable.

 

 

I loved the printable…but alas, I’m a bit of an ink scrooge.  So I decided to modify by using what I already have.  The chalkboard was already hanging in the mudroom.  I was using it to write lists and things.  No real purpose.  And nothing that can’t be handled elsewhere. 

 

 

 

 

So I had the kiddos help me clean the bathroom today.  My goal is to have them soon able to fly these tasks solo.  But for now…they need mommy guidance. 

 

 

After we’d thoroughly wiped, scrubbed, swept and restocked everything…

 

 

my daughter turns and thanks me for teaching her how to do this because…

 

 

“It’ll come in very useful someday when I’m a grown up!”

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Homeschooling!

 

…danielle

how we’re planning to use alphabet movement cards

I reviewed All About Reading’s Pre-Reading program last week.  In case you’re in a hurry, I’ll nutshell my thoughts right now:

I it!

So what does that have to do with movement cards, right?

Well…Trevy being 100(andthensome)% boy…

the thought occurred to me the other day.  While he was being wiggle-licious.  That I should take some movement breaks.  Or find some printable movement cards.  Preferably something that reinforces what we’re working on. 

Which led to surfing here, there and everywhere.  Finding notta that worked for me.  I was almost convincing myself that I should just develop my own.

Enter The February Curse

Every February…just far enough into the year to think we’ve escaped…it never fails.  The Curse hits us.  And hard.  This year’s was/is Influenza B.  Bleh.  Which meant an end to pretty much everything not involving groans of pain and hot hot showers. 

Today, was the first day that I really truly felt back up to snuff.

I tend to go cleaning crazy post sicknesses.  So I set about purging piles of papers. 

And found in the midst of mostly crap…

these peeeeerfect ABC movement cards I’d already printed out!  (who knows how long ago.  I drive myself nuts doing that. Printing stuff out and then forgetting about it. Sigh.) 

I proceeded to color the consonants red and the vowels blue.  Laminate.  Cut.  And hang the letters we’ve already learned with our AAR program around our Chicka Chicka tree.

When he starts to get squirmy, I’ll let him pick a movement card  from around the tree until we hopefully move move move those wiggles out! 

Now I (almost) can’t wait for him to wake up from his nap so we can do our ABC time!

…danielle

Reading Eggs (a TOS review)

 

 

 

As mommy of a new-ish reader I’m always on the look out for reading resources.

 

 

The chance to play with Reading Eggs has been such a joy!

 

 

 

So What is Reading Eggs?

 

Developed by skilled teachers, writers and web developers, Reading Eggs is an online phonics based reading program which can be used for beginning learns and beyond. 

 

Your child will earn Golden Eggs as they move through their lessons.  They can then spend their Eggs in Reggie’s Shop.  For my 1st Grader, this was a great motivator!  Because, really, what little girl doesn’t like to buy things!  

 

An assessment test (screen shot pictured above) will determine the best program fit for your child(ren).

 

 

 

You can read a complete break down of the lessons by clicking here. 

 

Or even better go ahead and Try A Sample Lesson!

 

 

 

How Much Does it Cost?

 

You can try it out for FREE! 

 

 

After that, Reading Eggs offers different pricing scales based on your needs. 

 

 

A 12 month purchase is $75 per student

 

A 6 month purchase is $49.95 per student

 

(there is a 50% family discount for 12 & 6 month subscribers)

 

For the non-committal types Reading Eggs also offers a month by month option.

 

 

Click here for full pricing details and more info on supplemental packages offered. 

 

 

 

 

What Do We Really Think?

 

 

Mommy (that’d be me:) really really liked Reading Eggs.  The graphics are adorable.  The lessons engaging.  And most importantly…it kept her occupied so I could work on other things for a few minutes!

 

 

The 1st Grader (she’d be the guinea pig) gives Reading Eggs two thumbs up too!  Her favorite part is earning the Golden Eggs.  Her second favorite part is spending them!

 

 

The Preschooler (he’d be the wild man) also gives Reading Eggs two thumbs up!  He didn’t have a subscription but still had a blast watching his sister’s lessons on the tube.  Our computer speakers don’t work so we have to use our HDMI equipped tv when we need to listen.  Trevy was a big fan of spying on his sister’s Reading Eggs time!

 

 

 

Would I Buy Reading Eggs?

 

 

YES!

 

It makes sense for my family.  My early reader needs all the practice I can provide her. And she loooooves Reading Eggs so I would totally purchase a longer subscription.

 

 

…danielle

 

 

**This is my little place to disclaim, as part of the TOS Crew, I was given a subscription to Reading Eggs in exchange for my honest and timely review.  All thoughts expressed are my own.  I received no other compensation.**

free iPad apps of the day (featuring every body’s fave Miss. Spider)

Miss. Spider’s Tea Party for the iPad is FREEEEE today!

and so is…

Miss. Spider’s Bedtime Story for the iPad! 

Enjoy your Paaaaaad!

…danielle

pre-writing work

 

 

Anything hand-write-y is SO hard with Trevy.  We’re battling his focus.  Plus, because his fine motor skills are still so immature it makes purposeful writing a difficult task.  Trevy doesn’t do difficult.  Or at least not without torturing his mommy (and therapists…teachers…aides…) who are crazy enough to make him try!

 

 

But he’s so very interested in letters right now.  And spelling his name.  Not to mention he has made gains.  He can write a mean T and O – which he must always turn into a face.  Because a circle is just begging to be accessorized with dots for eyes and a crooked line for a smile. 

 

 

I’m taking full advantage of his interest!  Handwriting sheets live in his Trays now. 

 

 

And was super happy when one of my fave homeschool mommy bloggers (1+1+1=1) posted some FREE letter tracing printables the other day!  I mean, I really want to buy Handwriting Without Tears workbooks.  I’ve added things to my cart but never checked out.  Somehow it’s just much easier to click print than purchase. 

 

 

I love love love how she uses a green dot to represent the starting point and a red star the ending point!  So wonderfully visual!  I was like, duh, why didn’t I think of that!?

 

 

In fact, I’m going to go green and red Sharpie crazy!

 

 

I like to either laminate printables or pop them in a page protector so he can use dry erase tools.  This mama knows how to stretch a dollar.

 

 

Did you notice the groovy green binder?  I stole that idea from Trevy’s preschool teacher.  Slanted surfaces make writing projects easier.  Click here to read all the benefits of using a slant board if you don’t believe me!

 

 

While Trevy was working, his sister (evidently a future movie producer) was taking video clips.  For me “to load on YouTube” (her words).

 

 

Being a YouTube movie star happens to be a great Trevy motivator as you’ll notice in the clip below. 

 

This video clip represents the actual amount of time Trevy worked on this project minus a minute or so when I hand over handed with him.  All the still pictures can be SO misleading.  Like we spend 30 minutes happily penmanship-ing.  Which is just not even close to true!  I’m lucky to get 3 minutes in a row of Trevy focused and compliant.  In fact, I tried to get him to show daddy when he came home from work.  Yeah, that didn’t happen! 

 

 

Mooch Alert -  Any OTs out there who read my little blog, if you have pencil grip recommendations please share!  In fact, feel free to share any pointers you have with me!  Kindergarten is breathing down our necks…and I’d love to have Trevy writing his name in time for his first day!

 

**editor’s notes**

A couple additional great ideas were given to me by a couple great professionals!

 

• When using dry erase boards use the Crayola dry erase crayons so you can break them into a smaller piece.  This forces a fist gripper like Trevy to use his pincher grasp.
• In general use smaller writing tools.  This helps encourage the pincher grasp as opposed to the fist grab.
• Use the rainbow method.  Hand over hand letters (numbers or shapes or whatnot) with one color…and keep drawing over that letter in new colors each time fading your help and allowing the child to work more independently as able.
• Try having your child write on a tall whiteboard or craft paper on the wall.  The more of their body they use the better.  This helps work on crossing mid-line too!
• Make sure your child is sitting in a supportive chair (both feet flat on floor) and using a stable writing surface.

 

…danielle

 

 

A Special Needs Mommy’s Take on All About Reading (a TOS review)

 

 

I have been intrigued by All About Reading for ages now.  Seems like all the cool moms are using it.  And you know me…I’m all about the cool factor.    Plus, I mean comon’, how adorable are the posters? 

 

 

(sold separately for $15.95)

 

Seriously though.

 

 

Not only are the posters super cute and all the cool moms using it…but another demographic, into which I snugly fit, also seems to be fans of the program.

 

 

Special mommies.  With specially abled kiddos.

 

 

I happen to have one of those.

 

 

(click here if you want to know more about his miraculously special story)

 

 

My little miracle boy (and primary reason for being SO excited to review AAR) just interrupted this post so we could have “ABC time”.  Which I’m thinking might be a hint of which direction this post is moving?    But before I dive headfirst into my editorial let me start with the nitty gritties.

 

 

 

What is All About Reading?

 

You can read the whole inspirational back story here.  All About Reading is a program designed to capitalize on the three essential ways learning takes place – through sight, touch and sound.  Each lesson incorporates these three factors which are proven to help little (and not so little) minds wrap around new ideas and concepts.

 

All About Reading is the reading branch of the company All About Learning Press.  I’d encourage you (and me!) to explore their All About Spelling program too!

 

 

How Much Does it Cost?

 

Ahhhh…the ever present question for most one-income families.  How many times have I purchased a curriculum only to feel like I wasted my money?  You don’t wanna know!  Then again if you’re a curriculum junkie like me, you probably already do!  

 

 

We were given the special privilege of reviewing the Pre-Reading program.  Actually, the AAR team worked together with me to figure out the best placement for Trevy (two thumbs up!).  And when we all decided the Pre-Reading program was the right fit, they granted me this special review (which makes me wish I had octopus arms so I could give them even more thumbs up!).

 

Click The Deluxe Program ($119 – pictured below) to see a full listing of what’s included.  The only con for me was having to laminate all the little picture cards.  Many many children with special needs tend to have significant oral needs (read: chew & lick anything in sight).  If I hadn’t laminated those cards – Trevy would have demolished them.

 

Click The Basic Package ($79.95 - pictured below) to see a full listing of what’s included.  I don’t think you need all the bells and whistles of the Deluxe package to use this curriculum successfully.  But…the tote is not only an adorably cute way to store all the books – it was also a great reinforcing visual cue for Trevy.  In fact, he knows the All About Reading logo anywhere now!  And he knows where I keep my tote and will run over and point at it whenever he wants “ABC time”.

 

 

Any way you slice it – All About Reading is an affordable reading program!  Plus, it’s cute!

 

 

They also offer a ONE YEAR money back guarantee! 

 

 

But is it Easy to Use?!

 

This is one of the most essential questions I have for any curriculum!  Because being Trevy’s (along with two more!) mommy leaves little time (read: energy & creativity) for prep and complicated lesson plans.

 

 

All About Reading is sooooooooo perfectly simple to use!  In fact, it’s quite possibly the easiest to use program I’ve tried yet!  The teacher’s manual ($22) breaks each lesson down into very simple and easy to implement steps.  Even the consumable student packet ($24.95) has ideas for how to use each coloring sheet printed right on the back of each page!

 

 

And one of the things I loved the most was the encouragement to just spend time reading with Trevy.  It’s easy to get sucked into the vortex of doing.  Therapy Therapy Therapy!  Everything must be Therapy!  I often forget the power of just snuggling up and reading a book together brings.  Every lesson plan encourages mommy to spend time reading.  Seriously, girls, how easy is that?!

 

 

So What Did I Really Think?

 

 

Um.  If it didn’t shine through loud and proud above allow me to clarify now --

 

 

I All About Reading!

 

 

And not just because it cutes up my school/therapy room either. 

 

 

 

But it totally does.

 

 

I love it because he does!

 

 

We followed the lesson plan’s suggestion of starting with singing the ABC song.  Trevy loved the mommy flair of using our puppets (I used Ziggy – he used an IKEA zebra) to munch up the letters on the poster while we sang.

 

I also laminated the posters to lengthen their life spans.  We have a LakeShore Learning store which happens to be enroute to Trevy’s vision specialist – so I was able to laminate them for just 19 cents per foot!

 

 

We would then sit and read from our read-aloud together.  He usually likes to cuddle in my lap while we read it. 

 

 

Pre-Reading introduces the concept of rhyming.  I’ll be completely honest, Trevy is still not fully getting this skill.  Rhyming is a bit abstract.  And the wagon game suggested in the book just wasn’t working for him.  Buuuut…he is very into memory matching games (thank you Mr. iPad!) right now.  So I’ve started using the cards in a memory game way instead.  The concept still isn’t clicking entirely.  But he’s enjoying it more and makes at least once successful rhyme per ABC time!

 

 

I love the simplicity of all the graphics and how they all coordinate.  Less is more for children who struggle to focus!  And Trevy definitely loves the logo.  He calls our All About Reading time ABC time.  And will go point at my tote, which lives on the back hook of the school/therapy room door every time he wants to learn more with mommy.

 

 

He actively intentionally asks for ABC time!  

 

 

 

The consumables are wonderful too!  We’re using them to create our very own ABC book!

 

 

Yep…

 

 

I All About Reading!

 

 

I not only recommend this program for other special needs mommies, I will also be purchasing All About Spelling for my 2nd Grader next year.  And am looking forward to the day Trevy moves on to All About Reading Level 1! 

 

 

…danielle

 

 

**This is my little place to disclaim, as part of the TOS Crew, I was given All About Learning’s Pre Reading Deluxe Program in exchange for my honest and timely review.  All thoughts expressed are my own.  I received no other compensation.**

 

***double disclaimer – it occurred to me after posting this review that I should mention that I do not fully homeschool Trevy (at this time).  I consider him blended schooled.  He attends a 1/2 preschool program 4 days a week.  There he receives ABA and Speech Therapy daily, along with Physical and Occupational Therapies weekly.  All of these, combined with my work here at home, create a special learning program for a very special little boy.**

whiteboard play (the one where he spells his name, counts to five and gets angry with the alphabet)

 

If I’ve said it once…

 

 

I’ve said it a gazillion times.

 

 

I my whiteboards!

 

 

 

I don’t want it to be too busy.  But busy enough to keep him interested.  My hope is that working together on these skills will spark some independent play!

 

 

A girl can hope, right?

 

 

 

Trevy’s Team (mommy, Miss. ABA, Miss. Preschool, Miss. HBTS, Miss. May May and more…) are concentrating on spelling his name.

 

Notice I have drawn the letters in for him.

 

He cannot spell his name without the visual prompts…but he’s getting the idea that these letters are very important!

 

 

I found this great simple little counting sheet and thought it would work perfect on his white board!  (mommy hint: it’s a printable freebie!)  I happened to have magnets already…but you could easily make your own with character stickers or whatever.  I just stuck it in a page protector sheet and taped it to the board.  

 

 

Bristel and I created the cutest little Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Tree out of flannel scraps.  I’m very proud of my tree.  Seeing that I’m not crafty gifted. 

 

I just taped the pieces to our white board.  But I like it so much I think I might hot glue it into one piece.

 

I used a dry erase crayon to write A B and C around the tree.  We’ll be adding D soon!

 

 

Bristel (she is craft-istically gifted!) made the cutest little angry birds pointers.  I printed a couple coloring sheets.  She colored them.  Cut and taped to colored pencils. 

 

 

Trevy looooooves whacking the letters with his angry bird!

 

 

…danielle