Apr. 5, 2008 - They're going by too fast
What? The years...
I agree that sometimes the days seem to go by slowly. Especially when you're up to your elbows in teaching, disciplining, cleaning, cooking...and having fun.
But today I went shopping -- alone.
I used to think that I couldn't wait to do that...and I do admit, it is easier to shop alone than with a five little
boys all around. But today, I missed them being around. I missed them being young and talking and laughing and making me laugh with them.
I miss their daily presence in my life.
Our oldest is now on the other side of the country from us, one of our 18 year old twins is at this moment in Coast Guard boot camp. The other 18 year old is busy with college classes, working and running for the fire department.
The other two are still at home, but they are no longer "little". And they're growing older every day!
When people say, "enjoy them while they're young" -- they are so right!
Be sure to take those precious moments just "being" and playing with your little ones.
Hmmm....I sure am thankful for cell phones and email!!
Wendy
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Apr. 5, 2008 - APRIL
I put up four new worksheets on www.ToytownTreasures.com
They all have something to do with TREES:
An Arbor Day worksheet
A factor tree worksheet
A family tree worksheet
A notebooking type page on trees
Hope you enjoy!
Wendy
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Mar. 2, 2008 - March Worksheets
The worksheets for March are now up at ToytownTreasures
This month you'll find some sheets for Easter, St. Patrick's Day -- plus a special rhyming lesson plan
to use with your children that includes a template for a game.
Also included this month is a spring notebooking page, months and seasons capitalization page, and a "write in sequence" worksheet.
Note also that three of our ebooks are now available in softcover, if you like the books already made
instead of in ebook form.
ENJOY!
Wendy
ToytownTreasures
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Mar. 2, 2008 - The Jelly Bread Syndrome
This amazing manifestation of children's abilities to discern between what tastes good at home and what tastes good at Grandma's house can be a frustrating dilemma for parents.
Do you have it among your children?
When I was young, for some reason, we loved to eat jelly bread at Grandma's house. It wasn't that Grandma had special bread or jelly. Sometimes, my mom would even take bread and jelly along to Grandma's house and we'd gobble it up. But at home, we almost never at it.
When we go to my in-law's house at the beach, my kids LOVE to eat the Bar-b-cued ribs that Grandmom makes. If I try to make them at home (even using the same recipe)...they just don't seem to taste the same. (I've been told this many times!)
While I don't know the cause of this strange behavior, I'm looking forward SOMEDAY to being on the receiving end of The Jelly Bread Syndrome.
Wendy
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Jan. 29, 2008 - February Worksheets
When our boys were younger, I loved to throw in a "fun" educational day once in a while. We'd just "throw out" the normal things we were doing, (like studying math or grammar) and do a one day "unit study" of some type. Sometimes it was a long science project or a day when we'd just play various educational games. Sometimes I actually thought up some things to do under a "theme" -- like for Valentine's day when we did a bit of a study about hearts. There is one idea of a one day study now up on Toytown Treasures to go along with Valentine's Day.
There are also some other worksheets for Valentine's Day -- and a couple of worksheets for the presidents.
Enjoy!
Wendy
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Jan. 5, 2008 - January worksheets
Worksheets for the month of January are now up at www.Toytowntreasures.com
I'm going to try doing the worksheets on a "monthly" basis -- and have them based
on some theme from that month...I hope!
For January, I've included a calendar with a few special days included, worksheets for
MLK, a Ben Franklin quiz and puzzle, a birds worksheets and cover page -- so you can made
a notebook if you'd like by just copying the "guided" notebooking page for each bird you'd like
your child to study, and a "discovery" page -- which has questions about John James Audubon
on it that your student will need to research to find answers. But I also have included links
on the January page that will help your student find the answers!
Enjoy January,
Wendy
www.ToytownTreasures.com
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Dec. 8, 2007 - December already!
Fall goes by so quickly...and now here we are in December.
I was able to put a up page with some Christmas worksheets including one that gives ideas for writing a letter to family or friends. There are also a few templates included for your student to use.
On that Christmas page are also some links to other Christmas sites.
www.Toytowntreasures.com
Today we finally get the Christmas tree. We were hoping to get it last weekend when our oldest was able to be home for a short weekend, but alas...the van had to be repaired. It is now 15 years old and some of the parts are "obsolete" -- and hard to come by. But it was good to be able to see our son for a little while.
I am so thankful for cell phones and email. It's great to be able to keep in touch even when friends and family live so far away.
Off to get the room ready for the tree...and maybe even get a few cookies baked!
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Oct. 21, 2007 - FALL
It's that time again for colorful leaves (especially if you live in the Northeast!) and cooler weather, although so far our fall has been rather warm.
We live in a small borough very close (about a mile) from the city line. But we are blessed to have a nice sized backyard with lots of tall "acorn" trees. At this time of the year, the acorns tumble from the trees and cover the backyard. With all these acorns just lying around...guess what we have in abundance in our yard? Yep, squirrels. The other day, my son counted 22 squirrels -- all sitting around stuffing themselves with the bounty of the stately oak trees.
Personally, I'd think they'd be able to live for many years with all the acorns that crunch under my feet when I walk in the backyard.
Maybe I can all learn some lesson about getting prepared for the winter, or for the future, from those squirrels!
Wendy
www.Toytowntreasures.com
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Oct. 7, 2007 - Fire Prevention Week
There are now six worksheets up at www.ToytownTreasures.com to use during Fire Prevention Week. These include making a fire plan, creating a floorplan of your bedroom, a page to write an essay, a notebooking page, a poster to color and give away. There is also a card to decorate andwrite a thank you to a fireman when you visit the fire station.
There are also some links to other places that have information, games and more about fire prevention.
You can use this week to visit your local fire company and thank the firemen and women there for their difficult and risky work of protecting our communities.
Wendy
• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Oct. 7, 2007 - A Fallen Hero
Two of my sons are volunteer fire fighters and both hope to go into full-time firefighting in some capacity. They had to deal with the death this past week, of a firefighter they work with. He was only 19 and he died during a fire call.
The community came together in many ways - to comfort and give to the family, to bring comfort and food and whatever else they could to the firefighters who lost a brother. I was amazed at the firefighting "family". Firefighters came from all over the county, the state, and even from other states. Many stations volunteered to "cover" the station of the fallen firefighter, so the men wouldn't have to go on calls during this time.
I had never known of the type of funeral given to a fallen firefighter -- the men marched together, all wearing their uniforms and the firetrucks from every station in the county (and some others) came. They drove the casket, on top of one of the firetrucks, in a procession past the two stations where this young man had been a member. The siren went off as a salute when they drove past. Many people attended the funeral, with people standing along the street watching in quietness and respect, as the fire trucks rolled by in the slow procession.
One of my boys helped with the rescue efforts. The other, who had been friends with this young man, had been on an ambulance call and arrived after three firefighters were extracted from the fallen garage.
This is Fire Prevention Week. Can you try to take a few minutes out of your busy schedule to talk with your children about the importance of these men and women who risk their lives for others?
Thank you,
Wendy
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Sep. 27, 2007 - Sun and Moon
I finally finished two sets of worksheets for ToytownTreasures. The first is a short article/story about the sun followed by some questions. The next page has a writing activity. The second is a short article/story about the moon followed by some questions. The next page has illustrations and information about the stages of the moon with directions on how to fill in the empty month calendar on the third page. I've included a website that has all the phases of the moon for every month listed.
I'm back to teaching in the small school I had taught at last year. Teaching English and World History -- and I admit, I'm learning a lot. Also trying to keep up with homeschooling a few classes for the two boys we still have at home. They take a couple of classes at the school too.
Enjoy the worksheets!
Wendy
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Jun. 17, 2007 - New Stuff
New stuff on www.ToytownTreasures.com includes
1. The 5 paragraph essay. It's 3 pages that breaks the essay down into its paragraphs and makes writing a whole essay just a little easier.
2. Dolch Word List. Also 3 pages, including the dolch list of sight words, a page to give some directions on learning the words, and a template in case you'd like to make some flashcards.
3. My State Scrapbook. The newest ebook has pages to be filled in with pictures and information from around your state. This would be a great thing to do over the summer if you're doing any traveling in your state...or just add it to your state study. Great to add to a portfolio. AND -- if you enter the promo code that is on ToytownTreasures, you will get $1.00 off the price.
ENJOY the summer!
Wendy
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
May. 15, 2007 - Memorial Day
It is just around the corner...with summer at its heels. But does your child know what Memorial Day is all about...besides fun parades, the pool opening and summer? Check out the newest set of worksheets on www.ToytownTreasures.com and you'll find an article with some discussion (or quiz) questions and two other activity pages for your child.
Be sure to look around a little. I've added a few new things...even one page on camping that I am hoping to add to a little at a time. I'd like to continue to add "camping tips" as I can, so if anyone would like to send me a camping tip, I'd love to put it up! We're only a little experienced, but have enjoyed our various trips to campgrounds in different states.
ENJOY!
Wendy
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Apr. 29, 2007 - Looking Forward
Our school year is almost over. Two of our boys will graduate this year, so that leaves only two more at home to homeschool. But every year, I still ask myself -- what will I use next year? I ask that question because each one of my boys is different and enjoys learning in different ways. We've tried various types of curriculum, living books, workbooks, textbooks, video teachers, a few classes at a small high school.
The important thing is that I try to see what works best with each student. Some are more independent than others and will just do their work because it needs to be done. Others need a lot more "prodding" to get to their work.
So I begin again to determine what seems best for next year's school. The boys at home will be in 11th and in 7th, so they will be taking a couple of classes outside of our home (at a small high school), but there will be a couple of classes at home too.
And the amazing thing is...there are many, many, many different books, unit studies, textbooks, etc to choose from. I think this process may take a while!
Wendy
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Apr. 17, 2007 - A Sad Day
In the light of this horrific tragedy in VA, let's pray for the families of the victims. They are the ones who have to make it through all the tomorrows left. God will give His grace.
And in the midst of this, we hear of a hero. The 76 year old professor, survivor of the holocaust, and professor/teacher to these students. He stood in the doorway to keep the gunman away from the students so they could flee, and was shot. He gave his life so that others could live. Thank you, Liviu Librescu for your shining example of honor and valor.
What types of heroes are we growing in our country now?
Wendy
www.ToytownTreasures.com
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Apr. 9, 2007 - Memory blocks
The other evening I was driving by myself (a new experience lately!) and for some reason I decided to see if I could actually remember all the presidents. I got through the first six, and got "stuck" for a minute. But then I remembered the memory sentence I had created for the first 10 presidents -- and suddenly I was "unstuck" !
Anyway, if you're interested in using memory sentences to help your student learn the presidents in order, look at "Learn the Presidents in Order" ebook. Not only can your student create his/her own memory sentences, they can do some other activities to help reinforce that. Just don't forget to review it with them once in a while!
Wendy
www.ToytownTreasures.com
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Apr. 1, 2007 - Added title
If you look at ToytownTreasures.com you'll see some new worksheets. Two types of book reports, a hundred chart, and some notebooking pages.
I also have added a new ebook , Learning the Presidents in Order. The student will create a memory sentence for each group of 10 presidents. Kind of like the PEMDAS..or "Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally" to help us all remember the order of operations...Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction.
After the memory sentence, there are some activities to help reinforce the learning. I also added a couple of extra activitiy pages at the end, plus a "Presidents Information" sheet -- you can make a copy of this for each presidents, then a create a presidents notebook.
ENJOY!
Wendy
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Mar. 26, 2007 - New stuff
Welcome to spring...finally! The weather is growing warmer which makes everyone feel better. Everywhere I drive, I see people out walking or riding bikes and just enjoying getting outside.
Teaching two high school classes has taken a lot of my time, along with homeschooling my own boys, so I haven't been quite as diligent with the worksheets. But I have put some up and just yesterday added more. I added some notebooking pages. But if you'd like to see even more notebooking pages, go to www.notebookingpages.com Debra has some free pages, and some inexpensive ebooks filled with notebooking pages to use in many types of studies, such as birds, composers, etc.
I spent this weekend with just the two youngest boys. It was quiet in our house! Plus there were many less dishes to do. The twins returned last evening and my husband returns today, so I'm back on full time duty!
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Jan. 9, 2007 - Brave Bob
We had to say good-bye yesterday to our beagle-bassett. We got Bob about 5 years ago at a shelter. He hadn't been treated well and had separation anxiety. But since we homeschool and we are around most of the time, he adjusted (after a few problems). But Bob has been going downhill for a little while, and last week his sight, which had been diminished, was gone. He began to run into walls. We had to talk him to the door, or to his "spot". That, on top of the other problems he was experiencing, made us realize that the best thing to do was to have him put to sleep. I kept putting it off as long as I could.
The best choice sure isn't the easiest choice. Sometimes it hurts your heart.
Fortunately, we have a little dog around who is very much a puppy still. And of course, the boys think this means it's time for another dog. Mom and Dad just aren't so sure.
So, thanks Brave Bob for the years we got to spend with you.
My "Brave Bob" rhyming lesson plan and book is still available at www.Homeschoolestore.com and it really is based on him.
Wendy
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Jan. 2, 2007 - More worksheets
Well, since I met my goal of 100 worksheets for 2006, I guess I'll have to set a new goal for 2007!
I've started with three:
Two are notebooking pages for January and February.
One is a book list chart that you can put in your portfolo or just use to keep a log of what your child has read.
Wendy
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
<- Last Page • Next Page ->
