I’ve written before about why we love the library. One reason I cited is because they have many items other than books that can be checked out. When we were exploring our new library, we discovered a stereo microscope that can be borrowed by patrons. We eagerly checked it out and my girls have been observing the finer details of many objects. Here are some of the things … [Read more...] about 55 Things to View Under a Stereo Microscope
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Supplemental Materials to Accompany Math-U-See Beta
We use Math-U-See as our math curriculum, and we absolutely love it! Its clear, to-the-point lessons are presented in a systematic approach. It is engaging and relatively easy to use. What I appreciate most about this curriculum is how it continues to review concepts that were taught previously so that students don’t forget them. Despite my appreciation for the … [Read more...] about Supplemental Materials to Accompany Math-U-See Beta
Math Trekker Addition and Subtraction Game (Review)
As I noted last October, I was looking for alternatives to flash cards to help one of my daughters learn addition and subtraction facts. One alternative I came across was the Math Trekker™ Addition and Subtraction flash card game. This game serves the same purpose as flash cards, but it is in an electronic format. In my experience, kids are more open to electronic … [Read more...] about Math Trekker Addition and Subtraction Game (Review)
How Board Games Benefit Kids
I have many fun memories of playing board games with my sister when we were growing up. We’d play for hours, sometimes laughing as we made up our own rules and sometimes glowering as we engaged in intense competition. Regardless of what approach we used, we ended up bonding and having fun. Until recently, my little ones were too young for most board games. However, my … [Read more...] about How Board Games Benefit Kids
Inkjet vs. Laser Printers for Homeschool Use
A high-quality printer is an essential piece of equipment for my family’s homeschool. In addition to documents I need around the house and miscellaneous things we print like receipts, we print several school-related documents each week. When we began looking for a new printer several months ago, I realized that many things had changed in the decade or so that had passed … [Read more...] about Inkjet vs. Laser Printers for Homeschool Use
Alternatives to Addition and Subtraction Flash Cards
My kids use Math-U-See for their math curriculum. We love this curriculum for a number of reasons: it introduces steps in a logical order, each lesson is relatively short, and it uses a self-paced approach. This is a manipulative-based curriculum, so a set of base 10 blocks are essential to the curriculum. I appreciate how Math-U-See uses these blocks because they show … [Read more...] about Alternatives to Addition and Subtraction Flash Cards
My First Ticonderoga Primary Size Beginner Pencils (Review)
Several years ago, when I first started doing preschool activities with my eldest child, I quickly realized that regular pencils weren’t going to work for her yet. Her little fingers had a difficult time gripping standard pencils because they were so thin. Additionally, sometimes she would press a pencil hard on paper and it would break the core. When I started looking for … [Read more...] about My First Ticonderoga Primary Size Beginner Pencils (Review)