Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Thankful

November is "We Are Thankful" month! Thanksgiving and Fall are usually times to celebrate family. The first Thanksgiving took place in 1621 when the Plymouth colonists (Pilgrims) and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast. This is a great time to emphasize sharing and being thankful for what they have.

Here are ideas you might useful:

  • Write thankful letters to soldiers.
  • Make a construction paper turkey. Write something you are thankful for on each tail feather.
  • Have your child create a poem about something they are thankful for and share it with the family at the dinner table.
  • Encourage your child to go through their toy box and select five toys they would like to give to a needy child.
  • As a family, make “thankful” placemats for Thanksgiving dinner. Give each family member a 14”X14” felt piece (or whatever size fits your dinnerware). Using fabric glue, attach pictures (either drawn or printed ones) that show thankfulness. Use a fabric marker to draw and write on the placemat.
  • Using the word THANKFUL, write something you are thankful for for each letter of the word.
  • Bake something tasty for a shut-in.


Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Homeschool Literature

Have you ever wondered if there are any literature books written by homeschoolers. Have you ever wondered if there are any books written about homeschoolers? Well, the answer is yes to both questions. Homeschool Literature.com is a neat site that has books for and about homeschoolers and homeschooling.

The site offers a directory with reviews by homeschoolers, study guides, and ideas for further study.What a rare jewel that is for homeschooling families. I know that when I told my reluctant reader and writer that Eragon by Christopher Paoloni (one of her favorite books) was written by a homeschooler, it turned her thinking around. She suddenly realized that if he could write a book, she could too! She set out on her writing journey. She hasn’t’ finished her book yet, but what is important to me is that she believes in herself, wants to read more, and has finally realized that writing is not the enemy.

Challenge your child to read about or write about what they are most interested in. Maybe they will write a book and have it featured on Homeschool Literature.com!