Hello - I was recently laid off and am now enjoying being home with my three girls (twins at 6 and a 2.5years). I had thought about this before, but now that I am anticipating being home for the next month or two, I wanted to see if you ladies have any recomendations for websites that are cheap or preferably free that I can use to plan reading, writing and math exercises for the girls that are going into first grade next year.
Thanks in advance!
M.
I would recommend www.internet4classrooms.com, it covers a wide range of topics, reading, math, language arts etc. I use it in my classroom often :)
Edhelper.com has work in every subject for every grade level. There are a TON of math activities to print out, and some really cute themed "Read and Color" books that would be great for 1st graders. It's $20/year, but you can get some stuff for free. I use it with all of the kids I tutor. I also agree with the others about participating in the library's summer reading programs!
My kids will be signing up with the library for their summer reading program. For math, www.tlsbooks.com/mathsheets is a great source. I use it all the time. You can choose the grade level you want to touch base on and different sheets will come up. You then just print them off. Great thing is you can also print an answer sheet so you don't have to spend too much time checking if they got it right. There is also www.schoolexpress.com for other subjects. On this site you can even make rewards.
M. - Try www.edhelper.com. I've used it for years for my children. Many of their worksheets are free but if you want access to everything the cost is about $20 for a year. They have worksheets for every age level from K-12. I've already started putting toghether our "summer school workbooks".
Hi M.,
As a former teacher I applaud your efforts to work with your children over the summer months. Good for you to continue their learning! Check out your local library for their summer reading programs and get them signed up. It is a great way to encourage fun reading. Also, they may offer fun learning "workshops" so ask for their upcoming summer schedules.
There are so many great websites. Here are just a few:
funbrain.com
playkidsgames.com
superkids.com
schoolexpress.com
Also, Usborne Books carries some wonderful fun books and kits to keep your kids busy learning over the summer. Everything from sticker math books to wipe off activity cards. You can check these out on my website at www.UsborneBooksInfo.com or contact me if you are interested in learning more about these books and hosting a home or on-line show to get them for FREE.
Have fun learning with your kids!
D.
literacycenter.net is free and is a great site for your twins.
I still like starfall.com for reading purposes, but I'm in your same boat. My daughter will be entering first grade after a phenomenal year in kindergarten, so I want to continue doing some sort of learning. I saw a line of workbooks at Barnes & Noble called Summer Bridge. I'm actually considering one of those. I'm not looking for something super-challenging (it is summer vacation), but I don't want her to forget that learning mindset. I'm going to speak to her teacher today or Monday to see what she recommends. If there are any other good sites, I'll post again.
Good luck.
As a former teacher and mom to kids who love to read, my biggest advice is to help your kids LOVE to read. I put books all over the place (bedrooms, cars, bathrooms, playrooms, everywhere!) We read everyday. The best list of book choices I think is from a homeschooling site, called Sonlight. You could request their catalog to see the books they recommend for each grade level for both read-alouds and books they can read on their own, and then go to the library instead of purchase them. My kids devour these books.
For websites, my kids favorite site for learning to read is starfall.
Enjoy your summer with the kids!
Check your local library...I know ours has home scholling materials...maybe you could borrow some of those items.
The best thing is to google different sites. Starfall.com is a good one. You can also go to the local teacher's store house and get the Summer Bridges book bridging from Kindergarten to first grade or other inexpensive books. I would try to reinforce the dolch site words and number recoginition. Simple addition and subtraction are also good skills for first grade. You can also get base ten blocks and other tools to help with placement value.
In addition to starfall, my kindergartner likes to "play" on softschools.com
you should check with some programs at your local library. most have a summer reading program. there are usually small
"rewards" as readers attain certain levels! the kids always loved it. also, local park districts offer a variety of programs, some fun, some educational.
M.,
I'm sure you've heard about starfall.com...it's one of lthe best sites for primary reading. Also, look on the Chicago Public Schools website and you will find alot of great resources under Virtual-K. Just go into this link as a guest.
Happy Summer!
All the Best
starfall.com We use it all of the time in schools.
Our school offers a packet of worksheets the kids go into school twice over the summer to turn them in and get a new packet. Each grade is different, and last year my kindergartener was given the first grade packet because she was reading at a higher level. So some of the work was a bit of a challenge, which was fun. She loves to play school, so every morning after breakfast, while she was still seated, we'd play school. I had figured she needed to do one page a day to have it done by the day they had to turn it in.
Starfall is a great site for reading.
You can even find workbooks at the dollar stores.
We will do summer reading at the library, they offer small prizes each week if you have read books, or for the little ones, have been read to. I found a workbook, A-Z, it had a page to color, a small booklet to fold and read (a word or sentence on each page). It had a craft project (like for M it was a monkey out of a lunch sack), it had a recipe to go with the letter, and suggested books (A was apple, so there were stories suggested about apples). There was also a handwriting part. It took some planning. We did not do every craft, you can plan it to stretch over a few days, but we did one every other day or so, and I did maybe on craft a week. They made all the little books, and did the handwriting.
We love www.time4learning.com it does cost but it is sooooo much fun and you can follow their progress through reports. My kids love it!
Talk to the kindergarten teacher. They probably have worksheets they can give you to work on during the summer and things they can direct you to look into. Don't forget the library.
STARFALL.com is a good one for the kids to enjoy and learn from.....
I am a retired reading specialist and mother of 3 grown and I would suggest reading to them as much as possible, Help them become print aware of signs on the roads or in the stores...Words on their clothes etc...Evn cutting out the words on the packaging for your foods and turning them into flash cards is fun and helpful....Write letters to them in big colorful print and help them read the notes and or write back to each other or send letters to their grandparents etc...Just keep the entire word in the same color so that they see a unified WHOLE WORD.
I like the beginning workbooks that are available in most stores...If it is a math workbook, use cookies or celery sticks to count out the number and then add more or take away some physically...ALWAYS GET VERY EASY BOOKS FIRST AND DO THEM WITH THE KIDS....
PUzzles are fantastic learning aids and help with word construction and word associations as well as part to WHOLE ideas....
The more you can validate their abilities the better...Even if they do a workbook, then have them go over it again the following week or later using a colorful magic marker to trace their answers...Teach shapes and some goeography with a USA puzzle map...Go to a TEACHER STORE and you will find amazing supplies ..JUST WATCH your expenses ..it can get pricey!
One great tool is called the BRAIN GAME and has questions on lots of different areas...START at an easy level and it could be a quiz show for the family or a car ride diversion during trips or waiting for the dentist...
Don't forget roller skating, pool and swim classes at the YMCA etc for physical development too. And Fish, blueberries and healthful diet without empty calories or junk food...YUCK!
Lots of love , smiles, stars and stickers so that the learning is FUN and not a chore or punishment!
Your children are so lucky to have such a caring mom...I raised my first 2 boys this way and they are brilliant...Unfortunately my ex became mentally ill after my daughter was born and I had to return to work full time. Even though she was in Montessori School she did not get that personal attention and has had a difficult time of it both emotionally and academically...I wish i had done more with her in spite of my schedule!
I just purchased the Summer Bridge books for my girls
( 11,7,7). I will also do the summer reading program at the library.
M.,
My daughter's school uses the following site for at home activities for math and vocabulary. It may be of some help for you.
www.sadlier-oxford.com
