Learn how to homeschool for free!
Playing memory games is an excellent way to cement what your kids are learning in their homeschool! Here’s a great freebie to help with scripture memorization.
Adventures in Mommydom is offering free printable memory verse puzzles. Just add velcro strips to card stock paper or to laminated paper and have your kids put the words in order.
Click Here To Get The Printable Memory Verse Puzzles (includes 12 verses)
If you like to incorporate lapbooks into your school day (btw, we have a ton of awesome lapbooking/notebooking resources on this page) then check out this new Grocery Store Lapbook created by Homeschool Share!
Your preschooler can use this lapbook to practice shapes, colors, food groups, tracing, sorting, and more!
And I love that there’s a section in the lapbook for learning about how to start couponing too. 🙂
Moments a Day has a really great freebie right now to help with character building. This free printable comes with 30 activity cards to learn about character traits (friendliness, truthfulness, etc). Each card has a simple activity which focuses on exploring one character trait.
To get this freebie you’ll need to sign up for the Moments A Day newsletter.
You can get your FREE Mealtime Moments printable here.
Through August 28 you can grab a free copy of the eBook Well-Planned Homeschool: Ages & Stages when you enter your email address on the Home Educating Family Association website!
*I’m assuming that entering your email address will sign you up for their newsletter, so if you don’t want to be signed up for it then I would recommend creating a separate “deals & freebies” email address using one of the free email services like gmail, hotmail, or yahoo so that you can sign up for these types of freebies without worrying about your inbox getting overrun by newsletters.* 🙂
(Thanks, Saving Dollars & Sense!)
Right now parents with children ages 5-12 can head over to the Scholastic website and complete a mini-mission (this month’s mission is to start a nutrition tradition). Once you complete the mission you’ll be able to request two free Scholastic books.
I really don’t think this is going to last through the end of December like the promotion says since they only have 5,000 sets of books to give away! I’d definitely grab this offer sooner than later since it will very likely be a popular one.
(NOTE: On the sign-up form I put my name as the teacher, “Holland Homeschool” as the school, and my address as the school address. Hopefully that will work.) 🙂
Official rules: This giveaway is open to current legal residents of the 50 States and DC who are over the age of 18 at the time of entry, who are a member of a Family (”Family,“ solely for the eligibility purposes of this giveaway, is defined as at a minimum being the participant and at least one child who is between the ages of 5 and 12 at the time of submission and who the participant is the parent and/or legal guardian of). Upon complete submission of a monthly mission, the participant will receive two (2) free Scholastic books (approximate retail value: $11.98). Each monthly mission book offer begins on the first of every month starting on August 1, 2013 and ends at a) the time at which the first 5,000 book sets (10,000 free books total) have been awarded per the promotion period or b) the last day of every month ending December 31, 2013, whichever occurs earlier. Amount of books sets awarded may exceed 5,000 at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. One redemption per person/household per month during the giveaway. Duplicate requests will constitute fraud. Offer void where taxed, restricted or prohibited by law. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery from the close of the book giveaway each month throughout the giveaway. [continue reading…]
I’ve talked about the Teach Them Diligently Convention several times here on the site and on the Facebook page and I’m so excited about what they are doing to get quality resources in front of homeschooling parents.
The awesome people behind the Teach Them Diligently Convention (David and Leslie Nunnery) know that not everyone can come to one of the three big conventions that were held this past May (Spartanburg, Nashville, and Omaha) so they have put together several shorter and even less expensive conventions across the country!!
The locations that will be having conventions during the rest of the summer are:
Little Rock, AR – July 19-20
Dallas, TX – July 26-27
Colorado Springs, CO – August 2-3
Tacoma, WA – August 9-10
Tucson, AZ – August 16-17
The Teach Them Diligently Marketplace is a way to experience all of the wonderful encouragement of the larger conventions, but on a smaller scale and at a lower cost.
I also love that if you live in one of the areas where the conventions will be held that you will get to meet and fellowship with lots of local homeschoolers!
There will be two aspects to the TTD Marketplace: the Curriculum Centers and the amazing speakers!
The Teach Them Diligently marketplace provides a space the size of an average bookstore to each of the presenting sponsors. In addition, Teach Them Diligently will provide our own curriculum center presenting various popular publishers to give a diverse and deep selection of resources for the homeschooling family. So, rather than simply providing a sampling of resources for each publisher, the curriculum centers at the Teach Them Diligently marketplace will be much more complete and in-depth.
You will not only find materials but advice. Each of the curriculum centers will have knowledgeable staff to help you with advice and answer questions. Most curriculum centers will even feature workshop and classroom areas within their space.
Every Teach Them Diligently Marketplace will have a featured speaker area that will hold between 500 and 1,000 people in addition to the shopping area. In the featured speaker areas we will have constant sessions going.
Facing the same challenges and opportunities that you face every day, our fabulous speakers share insightful, down-to-earth wisdom gleaned from their education, homeschool experiences and walk with God.
Some of the speakers include Heidi St. John from The Busy Homeschool Mom, Ken Ham from Answers In Genesis, Rachael Carman with Apologia, Debra Bell, and more!
You can register ahead of time and it is only $15 per family. PLUS, when you register you’ll get a $10 coupon that you can use on any purchases of $100 or more.
Click here to get more information!
Also, be sure to follow Teach Them Diligently on Facebook and on Twitter for more updates and homeschooling encouragement!
There will come a day (hopefully) when I will actually need this magazine, but until then I can read it and dream!
Whether you are already a homesteader or a wanna-be homesteader, check out the free online edition of the June/July issue of From Scratch Magazine!
Your local library is very likely to have a program for summer reading. Some are huge events, some are smaller, but I’ve found that my kids enjoy either kind. They mostly enjoy seeing friends & making new ones.
Barnes & Noble gives your child the opportunity to earn a FREE book (from a selected list) after reading 8 books.
Scholastic Summer Challenge begins May 1st every year. Kids read, log their hours, and spin a wheel for prizes.
Book Adventure is Sylvan Learning Center’s FREE reading incentive program. Your child reads a book, then takes a simple comprehension quiz to earn points. There are hundreds of books to choose from in all reading levels, and they are usually books that can be found at your local library. Once they have earned enough points they can trade them in for some really cool prizes!
B&N has monthly book clubs for kids. Typically, you will find a book club for school-aged kids and a Storytime for the preschoolers. Click the link to see if there is one near you. They also have a free Kid’s Club reward program with free cupcakes on birthdays and other fun stuff.
Chuck E. Cheese has a year-round certificate available. Parents print out the form here and turn it in after reading is completed to a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant for free tokens. There are other incentives on their website as well, but only one reward per day, per child.
Pizza Hut Book-It is not just for Public School Kids. Homeschool families can register and get in on the free pizza action, too. Check it out and register your K-6th students today.
If you are a part of a Home School organization, you can register the group for Braum’s Book Buddies. A reading incentive for grades 1-5 during the school year. You must register as a group (unless something has changed in the last year or so). Kids can read books and earn ice cream treats.
Local Bank Incentives
There aren’t links for it, but sometimes a local bank will offer a $5 or $10 deposit for reading challenges. It wouldn’t hurt to call your bank or credit union and ask!
(in CT, MA, NJ, NY, OH, and RI only)
Bookworm Wednesdays entitles kids to free admission to a select children’s film when they present a book report at a participating Showcase Cinemas, Multiplex Cinemas or Cinema de Lux box office. Accompanying parents or guardians and children under six receive free admission and do not need to submit a book report.
Click on Clubs & Contests on the left side of the screen. Then click on the red Join Now! button at the bottom of the screen. A PDF file will open that will include the HEB summer reading program reading log.
Print out the reading log and record 10 books that are read over the summer. Follow directions on the form and you will get the fun prizes they have for your kids.
Last, but not least, the Six Flags Read to Succeed program is popular for those who live within 100 miles of a Six Flags Amusement Park. Students in grade K-6 can earn one ticket for free admission into a Six Flags park. Each family registers and follows the guidelines. You will get your tickets via email in May. The tickets are usually valid from mid-June to early in August.
Happy Reading!
I remember learning about the bacterial class called Actinomycota.
I remember that Actinomycota is a rod, that Leprosy and Tuberculosis are caused by Actinomycota bacteria, and that types of Actinomycota bacteria are used to make Tetracycline and Erythromycin. I also remember that it’s a soil dweller and a decomposer.
Why in the world would I remember this? And why would it be the only thing that I remember from my High School Biology class?
Because my friend and I made that one little section of our notes into a song right before the test so that we could remember it.
It was to the tune of “Hakuna Matata”. 🙂
What, you want it stuck in your head too?
Okay, here it is:
Actinomycota… what a wonderful rod.
Actinomycota… causes TB and Leprosy.
It makes Tetracycline and Erythromycin.
It’s a soil dweller… and a decomposer.
Actinomycota.
Completely useless for an accounting major turned full-time homeschooler and part-time blogger, right?
No way!
While I’m really not very interested in actinomycota, the lesson that I learned that day has stayed with me for the past 18 years.
It’s not only easier to memorize information through songs, but that information is very likely to stay with you for life!
There’s a made-for-tv-movie that I watched way back when I was in Jr. High called Earth Angel. In the movie, the high school “nerd” helps the prom queen study for her history exam. She’s having trouble memorizing the information and he asks her if she can remember lyrics of songs that are on the radio. Of course she can! So he makes up a song to help her remember the information for the test…
{sung to That’ll be the Day}
Battle of D-Day, the Second World War.
Battle of D-Day, nineteen forty-four.
Battle of D-Day, I’ll say it once more,
When Eisenhower led the troops to Normandy’s Shore.
Not only did it help her with her test ;), but I still remember it too!
While I don’t think I could be classified as a “classical homeschooler” (I see so many amazing things in all of the homeschool philosophies and I try to have a mix in our school life) I do LOVE the focus of classical education on learning through song.
You don’t need any expensive CDs to do it either. Just figure out the facts that you for-sure want your kids to know and make up songs to those one at a time. The song lines don’t even have to rhyme!
For example, here’s a short one that I made up while we were studying the Declaration of Independence last year.
It’s kind of a Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star remix…
The De…claration of Independence
Was sign…ed by the Continental Congress
On… July 4th, 1776.
The De…claration of Independence
Was sign…ed by the Continental Congress
on… July 4th, 1776.
The De…claration of Independence
Started a war called the American Revolution
Al…so called the War of Independence
Or… the Revolutionary War.
The loy…alists remained loyal to King George The Third
The pa…triots wanted to be free.
See? It’s not complicated, it’s an easy tune that everyone already knows, and it doesn’t even rhyme at all.
But the kids still remember it!
What’s on your list to memorize this year? Do you have any songs you’ve made up (or song ideas!) that you would like to share? 🙂
Image Attribution: GrahamColm at en.wikipedia
WOW!!
This week only (through May 4th), this bundle of 97 (yes, NINETY-SEVEN) ebooks is available to purchase for just $29.97. If you were to buy each of these ebooks separately it would cost $640.
There are several ebooks that I post good deals on and don’t end up buying myself, but there’s just no way that I can pass up buying this deal myself (I just bought it before putting up this post). I love being able to just use paypal to buy it too!
Yes, it’s not free, and most of what you’ll find here on How To Homeschool For Free is going to be completely free. BUT, to have all of these resources and ebooks on hand to teach my children all kinds of awesome homemaking skills for just $29.97? How can I pass that up?
There are not only great books on parenting, marriage, organizing, budgeting, cooking, healthy living, working from home, and beauty (plus more), there are lots of great education & homeschooling ebooks too!!
Several of my favorite authors and bloggers are included in this sale and I’m really looking forward to reading through as many of them as I can.
If all of the ebooks weren’t enough, there are also $140 in bonus products from various companies that you get when you buy! I’ve listed out all of the books that are included (by topic) below, as well as all of the bonuses that you’ll get too.
31 Days to Clean
Getting it Together: Your Guide to Setting Up a Home Management System that Works
Pulling Yourself Together: Implementing a Cleaning Routine that Sticks
Simple Living: 30 Days to Less Stuff and More Life
NOT a DIY Diva
One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler
28 Days to Hope for your Home
Organizing Life as Mom
Clean Enough: Simple Solutions for the Overwhelmed Homemaker
10 Steps to Organized Paper
Handmade Walls
From Debtor to Better
Tell Your Time
The Homemakers Guide to Creating the Perfect Schedule
Your Grocery Budget Toolbox
Finding Financial Freedom
Become a Frugalista in 30 Days
Crock On
Wholesome Mixes
20-Minute Meals
Restocking the Pantry
Money Saving Mom’s Guide to Freezer Cooking
Simply Summer
Do the Funky Kitchen
Real Food Kids: In the Kitchen
Real Food, Real Easy
Seasonal Menu Plans on a Budget
Just Making Ice Cream
First Bites
Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert
Stress-Free Baby Shower
Unbound Birth
My Pregnancy Journey
My Buttered Life Baby Edition
The Minimalist Mom’s Guide to Baby’s First Year
Redeeming Childbirth: Growth & Study Guide
100-pound Loser
Honoring the Rhythm of Rest
42 Days to Fit
Healthy Homemaking
Personal ePlanner
Nature’s Superb Superfoods: Lose Weight & Revitalize Your Body
From Frump to Pump
The Cottage Mama’s DIY Guide
Simple Scrubs to Make and Give
The No-Brainer Wardrobe
Embracing Beauty
Reuse, Refresh, Repurpose
Your Blogging Business: Tax Tips and Tricks
The Bootstrap VA
How to Grow Your Blog and Manage Your Home
How to Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too
Simple Blogging
Princess Training
The Armor of God
My Bedtime Learning Book
Think Outside the Classroom
Raising Rock Stars–Kindergarten Bundle
The ABC’s For Godly Boys Curriculum
The ABC’s For Godly Girls Curriculum
K4 Curriculum
Write Through the Bible: Philippians 2, print
Write Through the Bible: Philippians 2, cursive
Balcony Girls–books 1 & 2 (a mentoring curriculum for teen girls)
Easy Peasy Chores: An Easy-to-Use Chore System That Brings JOY Back Into Family Chores
The Dig for Kids: Luke (volumes 1 and 2)
Music: An Essential Ingredient for Life
Festive Traditions
Holiday Mixes: Gifts in a Jar
Flourishing Spring
Family Camping Handbook
Truth in the Tinsel
Plan a Fabulous Party
iPhone Photography: The Visual Guide
Pursuit of the Proverbs 31 Woman
The Best of Visionary Womanhood
God’s Word in my Heart: A Scripture Memory Learning Guide with Verses {all 4 versions}
Kept
Love like Him
Rekindling Romance
Good Wife’s Guide
31 Days to Build a Better Spouse
31 Days to Great Sex for Married Couples
Entangled: Recognize Your Emotional Affair
The Heart of Simplicity
True Christian Motherhood
Hula Hoop Girl
When Motherhood Feels Too Hard
Mindset for Moms
From Cube to Farm
4 Moms of 35+ Kids Answer Your Parenting Questions
That Works for Me!
Learning in Love: The Preschool Years
Homeschooling from the Heart: Ages 5-8
Grocery University
Vibrant Living Strategies for Moms
You Can Do This! The First Five Steps to a Real Food Kitchen
WHEW! I think I have my reading material for the next 5 years or so!
*Disclosure: The links in this post are affiliate links. My personal policy is to never promote something with an affilate link that I wouldn’t also promote without an affiliate link. Using affiliate links helps to keep How To Homeschool For Free… FREE! 🙂
